Administrator Tricia Clements talks about the future of the Ambulance Service in Richland County

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis. (WRCO / WRCE) – Richland County Administrator, Tricia Clements, reported to the County Executive & Finance Committee that direction was provided to explore agencies that could complete an assessment and provide recommendations for the future of the Ambulance Service. Interviews were completed with Innovative Public Advisors, Wisconsin Public Forum, and Strategic Management and Consulting. All three shared that to complete a realistic assessment, viable options should be provided for them to explore. Through discussions with all three in addition to James Small from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and Alan DeYoung from Wisconsin EMS Association there are three possible options.

OPTIONS ARE:

Continue to have the county run the ambulance service.

To have a third-party provider.

Or through the creation of a district, with the district taking over the service.

Clements would like to recommend engaging with the municipalities to see if they are open to creating a district and transitioning the administration and infrastructure to them. If they are not, the next step would be for the county to consider the other two options. Once the administration of the service is established, options should then be explored related to the
funding of the service. Clements will make arrangements to meet with the municipalities to see if they desire to create an ambulance service.

The committee also approved the updated fee schedule for Richland County Ambulance. Interim Ambulance Director, Barb Scott, reported the ambulance’s current fee schedule is outdated and requires revision to remain competitive with other services in the region. Additionally, the existing structure charges residents the same rates as nonresidents, even though residents already contribute through local taxes. This approach is not consistent with common industry practice. The proposed updated fee schedule establishes higher rates for nonresidents who utilize the ambulance services, aligning county policies with standard practices across comparable agencies.

The Emergency Management Department has been notified that it is eligible to apply for a grant of State funds from Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM), as administered by the Wisconsin Emergency Management Department, for the purpose of providing funding for hazardous materials response equipment in order to maintain or increase capability for emergency response to hazardous substance releases within Richland County. Vernon County will acquire the equipment and Richland County will reimburse them and be reimbursed by WEM. The $2,500 annual contract with the Four-County Hazmat Team satisfies the 20% match required for the grant.

The Richland County Executive & Finance Committee moved forward to the full board of supervisors for the Emergency Management Department to apply for and accept the Wisconsin State Computer and Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Response Equipment Grant (CHREG), with the grant to cover $6,339 of the cost of safety helmets and radio batteries for the Four-County HazMat Team in Vernon County, and with Richland County covering $1,584, which is the 20% local share County match.

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