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Providers and towns press county for emergency medical service funding meeting
Summary
Local EMS operators and municipal officials asked McCook County commissioners for a coordinated discussion to shore up McCook County Emergency Medical Services, citing a $304,000 estimate to sustain operations and noting small municipal appropriations in draft 2025 budgets.
Brad (BJ) Stiefvater Jr., speaking for McCook County Emergency Medical Services, requested a meeting with the county and municipal leaders to explore funding options to keep the ambulance service operating. Present at the request were several McCook EMS EMTs, city council and finance officers from multiple towns, Sheriff Mark Norris, States Attorney Mike Fink, and about 25 total participants.
Speakers described precarious funding: Salem’s draft 2025 budget included $15,000 for the ambulance service, Spencer proposed $2,500, and Stiefvater said the operation needs about $304,000 "to keep operations going." Participants discussed options including county ownership (which could enable grant eligibility), municipal appropriations, and continued subsidization by neighboring counties when patients cannot pay. States Attorney Fink cautioned the Commission that it "cannot bind future commissions with a contract" and recommended legal review of contracting options; he advised individual city councils seek legal counsel on contracting choices.
