After tabling the issue of establishing an EMS Advisory Council at their January 31 meeting, the Louisa County Board of Supervisors are taking steps to make it happen.

At their most recent meeting on Tuesday, February 7, the Supervisors agreed on the council to consist of nine individuals. This would include a representative from the Louisa County Board of Supervisors, a representative from the Cities of Columbus Junction, Wapello, and Morning Sun, a representative from the Louisa County, Morning Sun, and Wapello Ambulance Services, and two at-large members.

While the appointees have yet to be named, the overall composition of the council received positive feedback from the board. Supervisor, Shawn Maine, who volunteered as the representative from the board, explained the next steps at the meeting. “Once the board is set up, it would be determining the amount of tax that needs to be levied to make a particular funding level. We don’t know what that level is at this point.”

The advisory council is a critical element to the designation of EMS as an essential service in Louisa County, which was approved by the Supervisors last December. The council is to decide an appropriate tax to fund the EMS activities in the county, which they hope to have on the ballot for the November election.

Further discussions on the EMS Advisory Council are scheduled to continue at future Supervisor meetings.