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Committee hears plans to relocate a Sawyer County ambulance and to study Round Lake coverage
Summary
Mr. Premo and staff described a new ambulance awaiting DOT inspection and GenComm setup, plans to base Unit 5 in Exland, and an ongoing study of call distribution and costs for potentially expanding full-time ambulance coverage in Round Lake and other volunteer base areas.
Mr. Premo updated the committee on several EMS items: the county received a new ambulance for Stone Lake that is awaiting DOT inspection and GenComm equipment installation before it goes into service; once completed the county plans to move an ambulance to Exland (to be designated Unit 5) and to recruit locally to staff it. He said paramedic students the county sponsors are in clinical phases and expected to finish by mid-January (next year), and that the county is arranging a countywide EMS debrief on July 9 following a recent rollover to ensure all responding agencies coordinate and receive any needed mental-health support.
On Round Lake coverage, Andy and county staff said they plan to map call-distribution data and to review a 2017 study comparing past call distributions to current patterns; preliminary review suggests call volumes have not materially changed but staffing and dollars-and-cents will determine whether another full-time base is feasible. "Ultimately, it's gonna come down to dollars and cents of how much more it will cost us to staff up and run another base," Andy said.
Committee members asked whether Stone Lake would retain local service; Mr. Premo said Stone Lake is served by Hayward for calls on the county side of the line and that only one EMT currently resides in Stone Lake; the county plans to push recruitment and to assess contracts with neighboring services. Committee discussion noted staffing shortages across the region and that construction and tower planning decisions could affect broader service and budget calculations. No formal action was taken; staff will continue data mapping and recruitment efforts and report back.
