Marquette County committee to explore regional EMS partnership after residents warn service risks

The Marquette County Safety Committee heard extended public comment and directed staff to continue exploring a proposed regional emergency medical services (EMS) arrangement with neighboring Wera County while keeping existing service continuity and contract timelines under review.

Deborah Shrank, representing the Town of Crystal Lake and identifying herself as the newly elected chairperson of the Tuttle Lake District, told the committee that response time can be a life-or-death issue and urged the county not to terminate the current contract. "Time and money. How many decisions in life hinge on one or both? Some even say time is money. Usually, it refers to the business world. But when referring to emergency medical care, it is more than money. It can be life itself," Shrank said. She cited local call volumes (126 calls in 2025; 150 in 2024; 154 in 2023; 136 in 2022) and described seasonal population increases around lakes and campgrounds that increase demand for services.

County staff (Ron) told the committee that Wera County had approached Marquette about a consolidation in which Wera would take operational leadership while Marquette would retain its stations and ambulances and citizens would see no change in day-to-day response. Ron said the counties are considering applying for an innovation grant to subsidize a trial arrangement and estimated the proposal could save Marquette "potentially at least a quarter million dollars" over several years.

Committee members and lake-area representatives probed contract logistics, including a contractual notice deadline discussed as Aug. 1, the potential effect on billing and revenue streams (insurance/Medicare collections), and how any savings would be sustained once grant funding ended. Several speakers from lake communities asked for assurances that local coverage would not be reduced during any transition and raised the possibility of holding a local referendum if their areas lose dedicated service.

The committee did not vote to cancel or approve any contract. Instead, members recorded a consensus to continue exploring the regionalization option, have the committee chair remain involved in inter-county discussions, and refer the proposal to county administration and the county board for further vetting. Chair Judy was asked to keep the group updated; staff said they would report back as Wera County’s board and administrators respond and as grant possibilities are clarified.

What happens next: county administration will continue talks with Wera County and pursue grant options; the county board will ultimately weigh any formal change. The committee expects an update at a future meeting once other county-level reviews are complete.