As Iola continues to look at the future of its ambulance and fire department, the city could consider a number of “what if” scenarios, a City Council member stressed.
Councilman Steve French posed a number of scenarios Monday while discussing the matter Monday with Iola Emergency Medical Service director Ron Conaway.
Conaway has been asked to develop a proposal for a single, countywide service with Jason Nelson, Allen County EMS director. The proposal was requested Friday by a committee appointed to look at ambulance services throughout the county.
The city and county have operated separate services since 2008, the result of an occasionally acrimonious negotiation between the two entities.
A report by the Kansas EMS Board earlier this month suggested three potential scenarios: Keeping the status quo, with two independent services; a single service for all of Allen County; or using a third-party service for the entire county.
Iola City Administrator Carl Slaugh said a single service could save up to $1 million annually by eliminating duplicated services.
But therein lies the rub. The city is reluctant to drop its ambulance service because of potential cuts to its Fire Department. Iola’s firefighters for years have split duties as ambulance personnel.
But outside Iola, county ambulance personnel are reluctant to train and work as firefighters.
“THERE ARE a lot of questions in my mind,” French said, such as:
— What if the city loses its ambulance department, and thus cannot afford a full-time fire department?
— Would Fire Department cuts be feasible now that the city has qualified for a federal SAFER grant that mandates a full staff for the next two years?
— What would become of Iola’s ambulances and equipment?
“There’s a domino effect if we don’t stay with the status quo,” French said.
Conaway noted he and Nelson are coming up only with a proposal, and even the EMS committee’s recommendations are non-binding. The final decision will rest with Iola’s councilmen and Allen County commissioners.
Conaway said he and Nelson hoped to have a proposal within the next 30 days.
