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Jackson City Council forms Ambulance Advisory Board to address department deficit
Summary
At a Jan. 5 special meeting, the Jackson City Council unanimously appointed members to a newly formed Ambulance Advisory Board and directed staff to develop a hybrid operating model after learning the ambulance service ran an approximate $750,000 deficit in 2025. The council set a preliminary meeting schedule and will solicit an at-large community representative.
At a Jan. 5 special meeting, the Jackson City Council voted unanimously to appoint members to a new Ambulance Advisory Board and directed staff to develop a revised operating model to address the ambulance department’s budget shortfall.
Interim City Administrator Bret Heitkamp told the council the Ambulance Department “operated at a deficit, approximately $750,000 in 2025,” and noted the council certified $400,000 in the 2026 levy for ambulance operations. Heitkamp said the board’s charge will include identifying changes that could close the gap between those figures and produce a sustainable model by July 1, 2026.
The council appointed Alderman Shawn Foster and Alderman Joe Pell to represent the council on the advisory board and named Fire Chief Dave Bond, Dawn Schnell (representing Sanford Health), Kirk Dunlavey, Darci Fiala and Jeff Johnson as members, leaving one at-large slot to be filled after a public solicitation. The motion to appoint was moved by Alderman Nathan Peterson, seconded by Alderman Mike Schwartz, and recorded as unanimously carried.
Alderman Mark Titus said the council should include community voices without direct ambulance ties and recommended senior citizens as at-large representatives, saying the board should consider “one or two community members at large with no ambulance service connection” to bring a public perspective. Heitkamp and other councilmembers agreed the board should meet monthly at least initially.
Heitkamp laid out the specific issues the board should study, including pursuing a transfer agreement with Sanford Health, exploring increased revenue opportunities, reallocating personnel and overtime reductions, better utilization of Casual and Fire Department personnel, mutual aid options, and the potential creation of an ambulance services taxing district in 2027 that would invite cost-sharing from the City of Alpha and five townships in Jackson’s service area.
Heitkamp said staff would use social media and possibly a newspaper notice to solicit applicants for the at-large seat and hoped the Advisory Board could convene its first meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, with the board recommending a candidate to the council at the Jan. 20 meeting. He added staff would present a draft charge and objectives to the council at its Jan. 6 meeting.
The council did not take a formal vote on any ordinance or taxing district at the meeting; council action was limited to appointing members to the advisory board and directing staff to bring back draft documents and recommendations. The special meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
