Common council advances intergovernmental EMS agreement to fund paramedics and share ambulances

The City of Wisconsin Rapids has agreed to advance an intergovernmental emergency medical services (EMS) agreement with neighboring municipalities and the Ho-Chunk Casino area, Mayor Matt Zacker said in an interview on WFHR.

Zacker described the cooperative model the council is negotiating: participating communities would collectively fund six paramedics and stagger the purchase of ambulances so one ambulance is replaced every 12 years under the proposed cycle, while Wisconsin Rapids would continue to cover overhead costs for buildings, insurance and other shared expenses. "They're gonna pay for one ambulance every 12 years ... and then paying for the salaries of 12 paramedics," Zacker said, summarizing the structure discussed with partner communities.

Why it matters: Mayor Zacker said the plan is intended to provide continuous paramedic coverage across the cooperating jurisdictions while ensuring participating communities pay a per-capita share rather than being subsidized by Wisconsin Rapids residents.

Negotiations and contingencies: Zacker said the agreement timing and price are contingent on several communities remaining in the cooperative and on aligning contract end dates; some partners use other providers (he cited United Ambulance) and the city is still working through final contract language. He said some communities will phase into the contract this year while others are on staggered four-year cycles ending in 2027.

Next steps: Council has agreed to move forward with negotiation and staff will return with finalized contract details and per-capita pricing. If any member communities withdraw, the per-capita cost and staffing model would require renegotiation.