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Search and Rescue officials warn of fallout if county takes control of EMS; board schedules executive session on contingency planning
Summary
Members and supporters of Lewis County Search and Rescue urged the board to refrain from forcing a county takeover and to negotiate metrics instead; speakers said the agency is financially stable and that a medical director's letter created an urgent threat. The board moved to an executive session to discuss county EMS contingency plans.
Multiple volunteers and leaders from Lewis County Search and Rescue used the public comment period to oppose a county directive to remove the agency’s director and reconfigure its board toward county control.
Volunteer Harvey Ingersoll, who said he has been with Search and Rescue for over 25 years, criticized county moves and warned that if a government agency takes control he and other volunteers would resign: "if a government agency takes over control, I will be the 1st to resign, and most likely, the other volunteers will also." Rick Hunkins, a retired engineer and long‑time volunteer board member, described a recent meeting where county officials presented an ultimatum to remove the director and restructure governance; he said the agency is willing to negotiate reasonable performance metrics but not a forced deconstruction.
Josh Levesque, chief of operations for Lewis County Search and Rescue, said the group has improved financial stability and staffing and said a letter from the medical director with a short compliance timeline was "a bombshell" and lacked prior direct communication. "We secured a medical director. We are not gonna go away," Levesque said in response to the letter's threats about losing medical direction. Speakers urged negotiation and supplemental county resources rather than a county takeover.
After hearing public comment the chair moved the board into an executive session to discuss contingency plans for providing emergency medical services in case of a state of emergency and invited the county attorney, county manager, deputy county manager, clerk of the board, director of fire and emergency management and John Morrissey to remain.
