Otter Tail County looks at EMS evaluation
News | Published on November 27, 2024 at 5:27pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0By Tom Hintgen
Otter Tail County Correspondent
County commissioners, on Nov. 5, authorized a contract agreement between Otter Tail County and the State of Minnesota’s Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board. This allows for a pilot project that evaluates alternative Emergency Medical Services (EMS) ambulance services primary in Otter Tail and Grant counties.
Otter Tail County will serve as the fiscal agent for this program. Earlier this year the Minnesota State Legislature approved a $30 million aid package to support rural emergency medical services (EMS), with more than $4 million allocated to west central Minnesota.
This legislation, supported by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, includes $24 million in emergency aid for EMS providers focusing on services in outstate Minnesota and $6 million for a sprint medic pilot program in Otter Tail and Grant counties.
Speed zone study approved
Otter Tail County commissioners, also on Nov. 5, approved a speed zone study of Highway 56 near New York Mills, between Highway 67 and approximately one-half mile east to the city limits.
Commissioners request that this area be studied by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT) to determine the need for a revised speed zone or zones. The county board further resolved that the DOT proceed with establishing a legal speed zone if the findings of the traffic study are supportive.