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Commissioners direct Emergency Management to coordinate regional ambulance planning after debate over grant partnership
Summary
After debate over a Box Elder-led grant and concerns about transparency, the board directed the Pennington County Emergency Management Office to serve as lead coordinator for regional EMS and ambulance planning in coordination with Box Elder, Rapid City and other jurisdictions; the motion passed with one commissioner opposed.
Commissioners debated a regional ambulance-sustainability effort that Box Elder has led in a grant application to the State Department of Health. Commissioner Durr described the regional problem of diminishing ambulance coverage and noted that Box Elder offered to write a grant to fund a consultant; several commissioners objected that the county had not formally approved becoming a partner in the grant and asked that any formal partnership be placed on the agenda.
After discussion, including an explanation from Dustin Bullock, director of Emergency Management, that the office is capable of coordinating planning and strategic work, the board voted to direct the Pennington County Emergency Management Office to serve as the county's lead coordinating office for regional EMS/ambulance planning and to coordinate with the city of Box Elder, Rapid City Fire and other affected jurisdictions and any potential consultant hired by Box Elder. The motion passed with one nay recorded.
Bullock said the office's planning role includes strategic planning and coordination and that it would support the consultant work if the grant were awarded. Commissioners asked for further transparency on grant terms and for a formal briefing if Box Elder's grant is awarded.
