The Webster County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Council has begun their public information campaign for the upcoming EMS vote.
The Webster County Board of Supervisors voted earlier this year to begin the process of making EMS an essential service in Webster County. Unlike fire protection and law enforcement, EMS is not an essential service in Iowa. A vote will be held in March of 2025 to determine if a seventy-five cents per one thousand dollars of assessed value on all taxable property within the county shall be put into place. If the vote passes the 60% threshold, the tax will go into place and EMS in Webster County will become an essential service. The levy amount determined necessary by the Advisory Council is the maximum levy amount allowed under the legislation.
In the North end of Webster County, EMS is currently handled by Fort Dodge Fire Department (FDFD). The FDFD officially took over Trinity Regional Hospital’s EMS division in 2018, handling areas such as Coalville, Fort Dodge, Moorland, and Otho. At the time of this acquisition, it was noted that taxpayers would not be subsidizing EMS services.
After that acquisition, Clare and Vincent EMS transitioned to no longer transporting patients, and Fort Dodge Fire Rescue assumed their territory, picking up Badger, Barnum, Clare, Duncombe, and Vincent.
The South end of Webster County is served by Southwest Webster (Gowrie) and Dayton EMS. Both of these departments are volunteer departments. Southwest Webster serves Callender, Gowrie, and Harcourt. Dayton EMS serves Lehigh and Dayton. Both of these departments prove basic life support. In the event of emergent calls, FDFD is called on for advanced life support.
The Webster County EMS Advisory Council has established a website and facebook page to convey information. The Vote will take place March 4th, 2024.
