Scott County board postpones EMS rebranding decision after visibility and safety concerns

The Scott County Board of Supervisors voted on Dec. 4 to postpone a resolution to approve an EMS rebranding and logo design after supervisors raised questions about the visibility and safety of proposed color schemes.

A motion to approve the EMS branding was moved as part of the agenda; several supervisors supported rebranding in principle but said the proposed colors (including dark accent colors) could reduce visibility. One supervisor urged the board to consider high‑visibility colors such as yellow or lime, citing safety research and local examples (Bettendorf vehicles and school buses) and said the color choice could affect accident rates and vehicle visibility. "If we're really trying to build safety visibility, I'm all for making changes if we're gonna make changes," the supervisor said, and asked staff and designers to re-evaluate colors before final approval.

After discussion about design costs and timing (ambiguous figures were mentioned for design and the incremental cost per vehicle), a supervisor moved to postpone the item so staff could consult designers and present additional color options. The board seconded the motion and voted in favor of postponement. The chair instructed staff (Paul and team) to continue work and return with designer input; the board did not adopt the branding at the Dec. 4 meeting.

Why it matters: The decision involves more than aesthetics; supervisors framed the choice as a safety and procurement issue that could affect vehicle conspicuity and costs.

What’s next: Staff were directed to consult designers on visibility and bring additional options back to the board before finalizing the rebranding.