After tabling the items last week the Washington County Board of Supervisors approved the bylaws and creation and implementation of the Washington County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council.

The items were first tabled indefinitely last March after Washington County EMS Association President Toby Hancock presented a resolution explaining that the association voted to create an advisory council per a change in the Iowa EMS Systems Standards that stipulates that the county shall have an advisory group with representation from the supervisors, one member from each of the county’s EMS agencies, and one EMS medical director. The board tabled action last week after they received a letter signed by the city administrators for Kalona, Riverside, and Wellman, that the council should also include two elected officials to represent the county’s northern and southern communities. The supervisors expressed concerns about reaching a consensus in the group, which was already proposed to include 16 people.

This week they approved the bylaws which was amended to state that the members would include a seat for a mayor, councilperson or city administrator representing the cities of Riverside, Wellman, West Chester and Kalona, and then the same for the cities of Washington, Ainsworth, Brighton, and Crawfordsville. It also includes up to three other community persons. The council shall meet quarterly on the last Thursday of January, April, July, and October at 7 p.m. at locations determined by the chair or council.