The county’s EMS Advisory Council on Wednesday voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a list of agreements with communities.

The proposed agreements with Dayton, Fort Dodge and Gowrie reflect the fact that those communities have ambulance services.

There are also separate agreements with Badger, Barnum, Callender, Clare, Harcourt and Vincent, Those agreements are for funding to support volunteer fire departments that provide medical care before an ambulance arrives, but do not transport patients.

The Otho Fire Department provides ambulance service, but because its service was not operating when the Board of Supervisors called for the special election on the new tax, its agreement lists it as a non-transport service.

The Board of Supervisors is to consider the agreements during its meeting Tuesday. If the board approves them, the agreements will be sent to the communities to be signed by local officials. Once the agreements are signed, the ambulance services and fire departments will be able to get money from the new EMS levy.

On March 4, 2025, Webster County voters approved a property tax levy of 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable value to pay for emergency medical care as an essential service.

That tax is estimated to generate $1.6 million annually.

The proposal presented to voters calls for dividing the bulk of that money, about $1.4 million, between the Fort Dodge Fire Department, Southwest Webster Emergency Medical Service in Gowrie and the Dayton Rescue Squad.

Fort Dodge will receive about 76 percent, Gowrie will get about 14 percent and Dayton will get about 10 percent.

The fire departments in Badger, Barnum, Callender, Clare, Harcourt, Otho and Vincent will get $10,000 a year .

The proposal also included an emergency medical service coordinator position.The coordinator will help the leaders of the various agencies, advising them on training, medical supplies and equipment, and compliance with rules and regulations.

On Wednesday, the council voted to re-advertise the position.

Also on Wednesday, the council voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors appoint Duncombe Fire Chief Todd Bingham as a member, replacing Luke Hugghins. The council also recommended that Clare Mayor Barb Passow be reappointed.