The Pella City Council heard a consultant’s report relating to the ongoing challenges with Pella Community Ambulance and the cost of service in the community at their meeting Tuesday.

Robert Hall with Iowa EMS Consultants gave an overview of the report that called for an increase in staff, an additional ambulance, salary increases, and other infrastructure needs.

Hall says the report also calls for the City of Pella to give proper notice and cease service to those outside of the city limits due to the cost increases, unless the group in the Lake Prairie Fire District can come up with a financial contribution.

The complicating factor is that the townships can not levy for EMS services, and instead only for fire service. No action was taken, but City Administrator Mike Nardini has reported in multiple council meetings that Lake Prairie has insisted they don’t have the finances to provide a supplement for the service.

Also, in terms of additional staff, the council was given an option to add employees as revenue streams come in — whether that’s an agreement with Pella Regional Health Center for ambulance transfers, and funding from either the townships or if the county passes an essential services tax in a referendum early next year.

Hear more about the report on today’s Let’s Talk Pella. Read more here.

Full audio below: