Marion County declares EMS an essential service [Video]

MARION COUNTY, Iowa — The Marion County Board of Supervisors voted last week to declare Emergency Medical Services an essential service for the county.

Now an EMS council will be formed to determine the cost of the county providing EMS services to taxpayers. They will present the county with the cost analysis and then a referendum will be held for Marion County residents to vote on.

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Right now. first responders like the Knoxville and Pella Fire Departments are able to manage calls, however, with fewer and fewer volunteer services available some county residents could face longer call response times when in an emergency.

Cal Wyman, the Chief of the Knoxville Fire Department and Marion County EMA Commission Chair said that lack of funding is what puts a strain on EMS service providers.

“Funding is a big portion of this. …