Webster County may soon have its first emergency medical service coordinator.

The county’s Emergency Medical Service Advisory Council recommended Scott Richards, a Lifeflight paramedic and paramedic instructor, for the job Wednesday evening.

The recommendation came on a unanimous vote. The council’s vote was a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, which will have the final say on hiring him.

Establishing the position was part of the plan for the EMS essential service tax approved by the voters in March 2025.

The coordinator will not be in charge of the EMS agencies in the county. Instead, the coordinator will serve as an adviser on training, medical supplies and equipment, and compliance with rules and regulations. The coordinator may also respond to emergencies.

Two rounds of advertising were used to get a small pool of candidates for the job.

Richards was interviewed by a panel that included Fort Dodge Fire Chief Matt Price; Dan Hansen, director of the Dayton Rescue Squad; Webster County Supervisor Niki Conrad; Ted Vaughn, the county’s director of human resources; and Dr. Rachel Lewis, medical director for EMS units in Webster County.

During Wednesday evening’s meeting, Price, Hansen and Conrad all said they were impressed with Richards.

Conrad said the job is “essentially a new position in the state.”

The Board of Supervisors is expected to consider hiring Richards when it meets Tuesday.

Also on Monday, the council recommended approval of a second set of agreements between the county and the various EMS providers that would enable them to use money from the EMS tax to pay for personnel, buildings and vehicles.

The proposed second set of agreements was forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final action.

All of the EMS providers in the county have already been given basic agreements, most of which have been signed. That enables the agencies to start getting money from the tax.

In March 2025, Webster County voters approved a new levy of 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable value to support emergency medical services. It is expected to generate about $1.6 million annually.