Public or Private, Chickasaw County Will Need New Ambulance Service in 2023
Whether Chickasaw County moves forward with a private or public-run ambulance service, they will need a new provider of that service in 2023.
During their regular meeting Monday, Supervisor Jason Byrne informed the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors that current provider, Jeremy McGrath and Chickasaw Ambulance Services, is not interested in extending his contract with the County past its current expiration date of December 31st. Byrne added McGrath is also not interested in submitting a new bid for services and that he will be done at the end of the year.
Byrne says McGrath is open to negotiating the selling of his current ambulance equipment and facility, and he’s willing to assist in the transition to a county-run ambulance.
Supervisors have proposed using county ARPA funds for startup costs of the public/county-run ambulance service while municipalities on the Chickasaw County Ambulance Council would cover wages and general operating expenses.
County Attorney David Laudner noted that if an ambulance council member elected to go in a different direction, they’ve likely missed that opportunity to break away from their 28E agreement, which stipulates notice of intent must be filed within 180 days of the next fiscal year, which starts July 1st.
The Board of Supervisors and ambulance council continued discussing the future of ambulance service during a joint meeting Tuesday night at the Community Services Building in New Hampton.
