Crawford County declares Emergency Medical Services an essential service, creates advisory council

The Crawford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on March 17 to adopt Resolution #2026-10, declaring Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Crawford County to be an essential county service and directing the formation of a Crawford County EMS System Advisory Council.

The 4–0 vote followed a public hearing that the board opened at 10:00 a.m. and closed at 10:39 a.m.; the record notes one written objection and attendees who addressed concerns during the hearing. Supervisor Heiden moved to approve the resolution, and Supervisor Rosburg seconded; the roll call recorded votes in favor from Kyle Schultz, Muhlbauer, Heiden and Rosburg.

The resolution states that the county’s EMS “lacks the critical infrastructure necessary to provide for the safety of the citizens of Crawford County” and directs the board to coordinate with local EMS agencies to establish an advisory council to research and guide EMS system implementation. Once established, the council is required to recommend to the board an amount of funding to be specified on a ballot if the county seeks voter authorization for taxes to support EMS.

Text included in the resolution cites Iowa Code provisions that govern the process and funding options. Under Iowa Code §422D.1(1)(a) the board may, subject to voter approval, seek authorization for a local option income surtax or an ad valorem property tax not to exceed $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed value. The resolution also notes procedural requirements in Iowa Code §422D.1(2)(a) that the board consider and vote on the resolution at two meetings before final approval and publish notice at least 60 days before the first consideration meeting. The resolution further cites the requirement that taxes for EMS may be imposed only after an election at which 60% of those voting on the question vote in favor (§422D.1(1)(3)(a)).

The board’s action creates an advisory body whose duties, as stated in the resolution, will include annual assessment and review of county EMS needs and filing an annual report with the board of supervisors. The resolution also states that the declaration would be void if the ballot proposition to impose taxes fails at election or if authority to impose the taxes expires.

Next steps recorded by the board include coordinating with local EMS agencies to form the advisory council and, if the council recommends taxation, placing a funding question on the ballot per the statutory procedures set out in the resolution. The board did not specify a ballot amount at the March 17 meeting.

The board concluded the public hearing and proceeded with other agenda items later in the meeting.