The Jasper County Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff’s Department are looking to improve EMS service countywide by collaborating with other EMS agencies in the county. The County Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to sign a letter of intent to participate in a countywide EMS Affiliation. Board of Supervisors Chairman Brandon Talsma says Jasper County Emergency Management Director Jamey Robinson is spearheading this effort.

“This is not a financial obligation, legal obligation, or anything else. They asked out of the last EMS groups meeting that interested parties interested in participating in the affiliation to pass these letters of intent. It’s simply the County committing to the process of seeing what this affiliate agreement would look like and entail.’

Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty believes this type of affiliation is the way the county needs to go. He says it doesn’t take anyone’s identity away and helps pool resources and provide a better and more efficient EMS response and services to citizens. Sheriff Halferty also notes other counties in the state are looking into this type of collaboration as well.