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Council presses county for clearer plan on EMS coverage and 24/7 staffing
Summary
Council members pressed town leadership for progress toward full‑time EMS coverage on Kiawah Island, noting earlier county comments that station staffing may be a low priority; mayor and staff said follow-up meetings with county EMS are planned.
Council members used the Sept. 10 meeting to press for clearer commitments from Charleston County about full‑time, around‑the‑clock emergency medical services on the island.
Council member Heidingsfelder (speaker 2) said residents report frequent times when no ambulance is visible at station 6 and urged the council to make EMS staffing a higher priority in negotiations with the county. “I think that is what we owe to improve the safety of our community,” he said.
Mayor (speaker 1) acknowledged the concerns and said staff are working to schedule follow‑up meetings with county EMS staff to better understand their five‑year plan, political and cost considerations, and the options available to the town. The mayor also said the town had been told station‑level coverage provides about 68% coverage from that facility and that other, nearer full‑time stations partially cover the island.
The council agreed to pursue additional conversations with county officials to clarify costs, timelines and whether greater advocacy could change the county’s prioritization of station 6. No formal direction beyond scheduling follow‑up meetings was adopted during the session.
