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Hancock County EMS Board is Dissolved

The Hancock County Board has taken another step it hopes will reduce problems with the county's ambulance service.

It has dissolved the EMS board. That board was composed of EMTs who serve on the ambulances. It was to provide policies and direction to the ambulance coordinator and employees.

The county board voted 12-1 to disband the EMS board. Third-district Republican Harold Stuckwisch cast the lone “no” vote.   

District One Republican Joe Stevenson says it did not produce results.

He says, “What we've been doing was obviously a miserable failure. So we-the board-is still looking to other options and explore what the future holds. We just know that we can't  continue on the same course that we're on.”

The county board's Health and Miscellaneous Committee will take over the function of the EMS board.

EMS Board member Donald Haage says, “This is a good first step.”

County Board Chairman David Walker says the chain-of-command had to be simplified. He says employees

The county board recently has given Ambulance Coordinator Perry Cameron more authority over the EMTs. He can now discipline and fire them.
 
The county board is weighing its options to improve service and morale among its ambulance crews. Peoria-based Advanced Medical Transport has offered to take over management of the
the system. The non-profit company wants a five-year contract for nearly 900-thousand dollars per year.