Further discussion and planning on Wednesday moved the effort another notch ahead to resolve the dysfunctional patchwork of ambulance services in the county.
A week before, the Ross County EMS steering committee approved a study of the township, village, and city EMS and Fire Departments, and their mix of volunteer and paid staff and mutual aid and inactivity.
On March 20th, they agreed to take the study to the April’s Ross County Township Association, comprised of the county’s township trustees – who fund their Emergency Medical Services and Fire Departments – and sell the idea of overall reform one way or another.
The steering committee of trustees, EMS and FD chiefs, the county prosecutor, county auditor, and a county commissioner were concerned to keep the inertia going.
Ross County Sheriff George Lavender is also a member of the committee and a strong proponent of the effort. He pointed out that there was another woman a few days ago who might have been saved from a heart attack if EMS response had been faster, similar to Christmas day 2022.
Hear the Sheriff in his own words in the interview in the article on the Scioto Post, including a video interview.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
1 of 2 The Ross County EMS steering committee in discussion.
2 of 2 Sheriff George Lavender is a member of the Ross County EMS steering committee and a strong proponent of the effort, and spoke after a meeting March 20th, 2024.