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Lawis County board discusses Duff Creek Ambulance appointments after Dola notice
Summary
Board members said a notice from “Dola” requires appointing a Duff Creek Ambulance board and preparing for possible elections in 2026; members agreed to solicit letters of interest, consult counsel and may hold a special meeting to meet the deadline.
At its Nov. 10 meeting the Lawis County Board of County Commissioners discussed steps to bring Duff Creek Ambulance into compliance with a letter from an agency referred to in the transcript as “Dola,” board members said.
The chair summarized the written guidance the district received and said the immediate recommendation was that the county appoint a governing board and begin accepting nominations so the district can hold an election — candidates could stand in a May 2026 election if the timeline requires it. The chair said the initial terms for the newly constituted board would be staggered (one- and three-year seats) before reverting to the regular two- and four-year cycle.
Board members said they had contacted legal counsel and an EMS adviser to clarify the process. “He said when he got back into the office today he would talk to them about our situation and see what they said too,” a participant said about a conference contact who would consult counsel. Members agreed to follow up with the SDA attorneys and the adviser identified as John Seard to confirm whether appointments and any required elections could be completed on the timeline in the notice.
The transcript records that the letter referenced a 30‑day contact window (a November 21 date is cited in the discussion) and that the district received the letter in early November; the board discussed options including a tentative follow-up at the regular Nov. 17 meeting or holding a special meeting (candidates suggested Nov. 24) to permit two weeks’ public notice for letters of interest.
Members also raised operational questions about bank signatories and continuity of services if seats were changed. One board member said, “I don’t feel like we’re at risk of losing service,” and others recommended asking the attorneys whether existing signatory arrangements could continue while appointments or elections were completed.
Next steps the board agreed on included contacting the agency contact referenced in the letter to confirm the timeline, soliciting letters of interest from prospective board members (the group discussed collecting submissions by about Nov. 20 for review), and consulting SDA counsel and the EMS adviser for legal and procedural guidance. The board planned to revisit appointment timing once counsel clarified the requirements.
The board did not take a formal appointment action at the Nov. 10 meeting; members said they expect to consider appointments at their next meeting or at a special meeting if necessary.
