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Months-long dispatch concerns prompt extended public comment; commissioners move to require Dove Creek dispatch when accessible
Summary
Public commenters and ambulance officials told the commissioners they have logged repeated dispatch problems — including missing pages, wrong locations and coordination issues — prompting the board to move to require that ambulances operating within the Dove Creek district use the Dove Creek dispatch center through an intergovernmental agreement when it is accessible; commissioners moved and voted in favor.
A lengthy public-comment period on Jan. 20 focused on ambulance dispatch problems and whether the county should impose licensing conditions tied to local dispatch use. Damien, identifying himself as chief BMS for Duffield Ambulance (Duffield Ambulance District / DCAD), submitted a multi-page packet the board asked to be placed in the record and described recurring concerns: dispatch coverage changes made without field notification, delayed or missing pages, inaccurate location information and difficulties obtaining CAD records when problems were raised.
"These records summarize communications, documented incidents, and operational concerns spanning from November 2024 through January 2026," Damien said, asking the board to review the materials before taking action. He also requested that the board consider countywide data on annual transports by each agency before imposing measures.
Multiple current and former dispatchers, ambulance volunteers and residents testified about the operational impact of incomplete or delayed information. One long-serving local responder described situations when crews arrived with insufficient patient details — for example, not knowing a patient's age — that can materially change preparations and response. Cortez dispatch and local dispatch staff told the board that EMD (emergency medical dispatch) services are available 24 hours a day via Cortez and that calls sometimes require local knowledge to identify remote addresses.
Curtis Smith, who said he sits on a state advisory council, emphasized state licensing timelines built into rules intended to allow rural providers time to meet new requirements: "Do the members of your community not deserve round-the-clock EMD availability?" he asked, noting parts of the state rules include phased effective dates to support rural providers.
After discussion the chair proposed an amendment to a county resolution to require that any ambulance operating in the Dove Creek area utilize the Dove Creek dispatch center through an intergovernmental agreement when that dispatch is accessible. The chair moved to amend resolution 03-24-01 (as referenced in meeting) to include the requirement; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote after discussion about geographic exceptions (for example, when other providers are responding outside Dove Creek territory or when radio/coverage constraints make local dispatch inaccessible).
Board members emphasized the next steps would be to improve communication and to convene or bolster an emergency services council where agencies and dispatch could work through operational issues. Several participants requested a formal workshop (scheduled for Feb. 4) to review documentation and address disputed facts.
Next steps: the board directed staff to draft the proposed amendment and to work with chiefs and dispatch to develop an IGA and strengthen the emergency services council to consider operational improvements and data collection.
