The State of Iowa allows Communities to levy for an Essential Service Levy for Emergency Medical Services.  People across Marshall County have been discussing the current plan and what an EMS Levy could add for our community. Shari King, UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Hospital Administrator and Executive Director of Operations told the Marshalltown City Council that UnityPoint spends roughly $1 million a year providing ambulance service in our area.

King says their biggest issue is staffing.  She says there are some volunteer crews in Marshall County, but those are dwindling and they are feeling the need for more people to help.

The 911 service that UnityPoint provides is not typical for a hospital.  Usually hospitals provide transfer services between facilities, but not the EMS ambulance arriving at the scene. This conversation lead to discussion on how an EMS Levy could work.

This would be a way to make sure the entire County has coverage for Emergency Medical Services.  King says UnityPoint could stop the service at any moment

This was just a discussion item last night and a few citizens spoke in favor of having the Levy on a future ballot and further discussions about how to solve this potential issue will continue.

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB