ARCHBOLD WEATHER

No Progress On EMS Talks: Davis


The Fulton County Emergency Medical Service Advisory Committee made no progress on talks over the next EMS contracts with the county commissioners.

Dave Davis, Archbold fire chief, said the group, comprised of county fire chiefs, city and village representatives, and the commissioners, met for 2 1/2 hours Tuesday, Sept. 29.

“We talked about all the different proposals that were on the table,” Davis said.

“We kept moving back and forth, we kept working with the numbers… but I don’t think we really accomplished anything more than what we have so far.”

Ever since Fulton County upgraded rescue squad service to a paramedic-based, advanced life support system, the county has paid the four largest fire departments– Archbold, Wauseon, Delta, and Swanton– to house and manage county-funded paramedic ambulances.

Smaller departments– Fayette, Lyons, and Metamora– receive funds to add manpower.

Later, Lyons was able to provide a paramedic during daytime hours.

There are at least three proposals for how to manage the paramedic system, including having Wauseon drop out of the system and provide its own service.

The current contracts between the fire departments and the commissioners expire at the end of 2021, the same time property tax levies that support the EMS system are set to expire.

If the EMS levies are to continue to generate revenue without interruption, they must be approved by voters during an election in 2021.

“We’re trying to do it (provide paramedic service) within the amount of money that we’re given now… but if for some reason something changes or has to change, we have to make sure the money is there to do whatever we come up with,” Davis said.

The committee is tentatively scheduled to meet tomorrow, Thursday, but Davis said he has not received information confirming the meeting.