Resident urges county to preserve EMS coverage for Fort Leavenworth; offers cost and timing proposals

Danny Redmond, a retired military member and Leavenworth County resident, urged the commission to act to preserve EMS coverage for Fort Leavenworth and offered a four‑part approach: calculate the full annual cost of the additional EMS shift, immediately extend coverage to prevent any lapse, structure repayment to align with the Army’s fiscal cycle and include reasonable annual adjustments tied to cost increases.

Redmond, who described 28 years of military service, said Fort Leavenworth operates on a different fiscal calendar and that timing misalignment — not ill will — has complicated funding negotiations. He estimated the annual cost could be roughly $250,000 rather than $1 million but said the county should present an objective, documented baseline so Army leaders can see concrete numbers and negotiate a repayment schedule.

Commissioners and staff responded that negotiations are ongoing, that the county has exchanged letters and provided documentation to federal and state elected officials, and that meetings with congressional staff and Fort representatives were scheduled to address the funding gap. The board stressed public safety was a priority and said it did not intend to allow a lapse in emergency coverage while seeking a sustainable funding arrangement.

No final vote to terminate or change EMS coverage was recorded at the meeting; commissioners emphasized continued communication with Fort Leavenworth and federal representatives to resolve the timing and cost issues.