During policy and planning at their meeting last week, the Pella City Council reviewed ongoing negotiations between city administration and the townships just outside of Pella as it relates to ambulance service.

In a memo sent to the council (click here to read), they discussed a drafted agreement to provide ambulance service to Leighton and the townships of Lake Prairie, Summit, Black Oak, and Richland.

The city has been offered $36,000 per year, which would be retroactive to July 2022 and continue through 2025, with representatives of the Lake Prairie Township stating they will pursue options related to a potential Essential Services Tax — which requires approval of 60% of voters in the unincorporated areas of Marion and Mahaska Counties, and would be a vote initiated outside of the incorporated communities of the counties. If approved, that levy up to $.75 per $1000 of valuation would support EMS services, which would be on top of the $.6075 per $1,000 currently levied to support the Pella Rural Fire Department. Additionally, the City of Leighton could be levying approximately $.0970 per thousand of valuation to make up their proposed share, while the City of Pella uses $1.10 per $1,000 to support the ambulance service since it became a government entity last summer.

Teri Van Kooten is the EMS Coordinator with Marion County Public Health discussed ongoing progress from the county level and what options may be available last week (full audio):

According to the City of Pella, in the current fiscal year, they anticipate $36,861 in needed subsidies to serve the Mahaska County areas currently covered by Pella Community Ambulance based on 77 anticipated calls, and $96,208 to serve the surrounding townships in Marion County, based on an estimated 220 calls.

The recommendation from staff to the Pella City Council was to make a counter offer, maintaining the $36,000 offered for the ongoing fiscal year, but asking to split the projected cost for FY24 in half, and have the four townships provide $66,535 instead, and to have the term of the contract last through June of 2024. Administration also believes any agreement should include the townships working toward adopting an essential services tax.