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Star Valley Health CEO urges special EMS district; says 2–4 mills may be needed and current valley response averages 16 minutes
Summary
Dan Ordyna, CEO of Star Valley Health, told the council the hospital's EMS agreements expire in November 2026 and proposed forming a special EMS district authorized by Wyoming statute; he said 2 mills is the statutory minimum and 4 mills would likely be needed for financial viability, while current valley-wide response times average about 16 minutes.
Dan Ordyna, chief executive officer of Star Valley Health, told the Star Valley Ranch Town Council on Feb. 10 that EMS agreements that have placed emergency medical services under Star Valley Health will expire in November 2026 and that rural EMS systems are struggling financially.
Ordyna said forming a special emergency medical services district under Wyoming statute is one option being explored. He said statute allows districts but that a minimum of 2 mills in property taxes would be required, and he estimated that about 4 mills would be needed for financial viability. He also said Star Valley Health can provide education about the importance of EMS services but that operational decisions — staffing, station locations and daily management — would be made by a board appointed to run the district if it is formed.
Ordyna provided background on local EMS consolidation: Star Valley Health took over operations in Afton in 2008 and later added the towns of Thayne and Alpine under hospital agreements intended to improve response times and quality. He said current valley-wide average EMS response times are approximately 16 minutes. The Lincoln County Commissioners have voted to begin a public comment process on forming the proposed district.
During the council discussion, officials asked about response times, state funding opportunities, and the geographic coverage the district would include. Boyd Siddoway, a resident and former mayor, spoke in strong support of forming a district and underscored the essential nature of emergency services in the valley.
Ordyna said the town currently contributes $33,000 annually as part of the five-year agreement; if a special district is formed, the town would most likely no longer be obligated to pay that annual amount. Next steps are public comment and further county review; the agreements expire in November 2026, creating a timeline for decisions about long-term funding and governance.
