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Hall County commissioners ask staff to draft contract to stabilize Wood River ambulance service
Summary
Following a presentation from Wood River ambulance representatives about annual operating shortfalls and volunteer shortages, the Hall County Board voted unanimously to direct staff to draft a service contract modeled on Grand Island's arrangement. The board also discussed possible funding sources including Keno and general funds.
Greg, a representative of Wood River's ambulance service, told the Hall County Board that the volunteer-run unit is running an operating shortfall and that billing and reimbursement do not cover costs. "We're losing about $10,000 to $15,000 every year," Greg said, outlining a Grand Island estimate he used to model contract costs and saying a pro-rated annual contract could be roughly $57,000 based on one-call-per-day assumptions.
The board discussed options for stabilizing the district's emergency medical coverage, including a contract with the county similar to the one Hall County holds with Grand Island. Chair (S1) asked staff to treat the request as a standard county contract effort and to bring back language using Grand Island's contract as a template. Commissioner (S3) and others emphasized gratitude for volunteer responders and said a contract would be a form of community insurance: "You pay for it and hope you never need it," Chair (S1) said.
Commissioner (S1) moved that staff draft a contract and bring it back to the board for review; Commissioner (S7) seconded. The motion passed on a 7-0 vote.
Why it matters: several rural districts in Hall County cover large areas with volunteer crews and limited billing recovery for interstate calls; a county contract would formalize financial support and could be structured to renew annually, giving Wood River more predictable revenue for staffing and equipment.
What happens next: staff were asked to obtain the Grand Island contract language, draft a county agreement, and return with a proposed contract for board review. The board also discussed where a potential payment should be budgeted and whether Keno funds or a line in miscellaneous general should be used to cover initial payments.
