Board votes to remove Goshen 1st Aid from county emergency response plan; county to transition to paid EMS staffing

Rockbridge County staff recommended removing Goshen 1st Aid from the county emergency response plan and replacing volunteer coverage in the Goshen service area with a county‑operated, career EMS staffing model; the board voted in favor of the change on July 27 after discussion and public comment.

Deputy Chief Zalman and Chief Ramsey (participating remotely) told the board the recommendation followed recently filed charges and “concerns regarding the organization's leadership, governance, financial oversight, and long‑term sustainability” of EMS coverage in the area. Chief Ramsey said staff had completed hiring needed personnel to support the transition and were working on transition plans with the Goshen Volunteer Fire Company. Multiple residents and volunteers urged the board to retain the Goshen 1st Aid crew; Joanne Wallace, speaking for the squad, described long transport times to hospitals and the crew’s technical rescue capabilities and said volunteers have run “thousands of calls” over many years.

Board members expressed reluctance but a majority supported the ordinance that formally removes Goshen 1st Aid from the county emergency response plan and authorizes a county staffing model as a stopgap while offering a path for a future volunteer agency to reapply under new leadership. The ordinance’s text and supporting staff reports are in the meeting packet. The board asked staff to work with interested volunteers on possible future reorganization and said county leadership would offer assistance to revive volunteer service under different governance.