Garfield County commissioners approve calling election to form Hennessey EMS district

The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners on March 16 unanimously approved Resolution No. 26-47 to call an election asking registered voters of Hennessey School District I-16 whether to form an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) District financed by a three-mill ad valorem tax. Vice-Chairman Reese Wedel moved to approve the resolution, which the board passed with Aye votes from Clarence Maly, Reese Wedel and Joe Kegin Jr.

The resolution — adopted jointly with the Board of County Commissioners of Kingfisher County — directs the calling and holding of an election to obtain voter approval for the district and the proposed tax levy. The motion text specifies the district would comprise the Hennessey School District I-16 across Kingfisher and Garfield counties and identifies the financing mechanism as a three-mill ad valorem tax levy. The commission did not record extended debate or additional details about the timing or ballot language in the meeting minutes.

Creating an EMS district and asking voters to approve a property-tax levy would give the new district an ongoing local funding source to support emergency medical services within the school district boundaries if approved. The board took no further action on implementation at the March 16 meeting; the next procedural step will be scheduling and publishing election details and ballot language as required by statute and the counties’ joint resolution.

The motion passed unanimously. The board adjourned at the close of its agenda and will reconvene March 23, 2026.