Supervisors postpone decision on AATE liquor license after EMS raises staffing concerns

Kossuth County supervisors postponed action on a liquor‑license application for the AATE rally after a prolonged discussion about emergency medical services coverage and public‑safety risks.

County EMS and supervisory staff said the event operates a first‑aid station but had not formally requested ambulance standby. EMS representatives and supervisors discussed risk tradeoffs: one additional crew covering Thursday through Saturday would cost roughly $1,400–$1,800, while deploying an ambulance to the park could leave other parts of the county understaffed during multiple calls.

Todd, who met with EMS staff and the event organizer, said past communications with the rally had been inconsistent and that the county should prioritize residents’ coverage. “We have to look out for our citizens first,” he said, arguing for priority assignment of any added staff to respond to county residents.

Supervisors debated whether to condition a liquor license on insurance, emergency coverage, or a special‑event agreement; legal counsel said conditioning the license in that way may not be appropriate this year and suggested researching the county’s authority. One supervisor proposed an ordinance requiring special events above a certain attendance threshold to secure ambulance coverage in future years.

The board postponed the liquor‑license vote to permit staff to consult with the applicant, review legal options, and return with recommendations at a subsequent meeting. In the interim, supervisors said they will explore options such as a ticket surcharge to fund EMS staffing, revisions to the standby agreement rate, and a possible special‑events ordinance going forward.

No formal vote on the liquor license occurred at the June 9 meeting.