County to be part of medical services pilot project

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

County commissioners, on Feb. 11, pledged to keep the issue of county ambulance service on the front burner. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system availability has been an issue for many months.

Dan Bucholz, county commissioner representing the Perham area, has for many months been working with township officials in addressing the struggles that rural areas are facing regarding emergency medical services.

Bucholz and fellow county commissioners, in 2024, approved a legislative agreement that allows Otter Tail County to serve as a fiscal agent for a medical services response model pilot program. Progress has been made, but challenges still remain.

One option, noted Bucholz, includes EMS taxing districts in eastern Otter Tail County. 

The 2025 state legislature has a proposed bill up for debate called Senate File 1080. If passed by the Senate and House, and signed by the governor, EMS grants would be available. 

Bucholz and his fellow commissioners support this bill that would create an ambulance operating deficit grant program for applicants to address revenue shortfalls. Supporting county government and the needs of ambulance providers has been State Sen. Jordan Rasmusson.

“We need to work collaboratively with EMS partners to strengthen the overall EMS system in west central Minnesota,” Rasmusson said. “Staffing shortages are among the EMS issues.”

County Board Chairman Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids said that coming up with solutions for EMS is not easy, especially with state regulations on what can be done and what cannot be done by the county board of commissioners.

“My suggestion is for putting pressure on the state legislature to create EMS subordinate districts to address ambulance service challenges here in west central Minnesota and all across the state,” Johnson said.

Land and Resource

annual report

Addressing county board members on Feb. 11 was County Land and Resource Management Director Chris LeClair. He provided an annual report.

LeClair and members of his department have many duties. The goal is to protect the land, lakes and rivers in Otter Tail County. One of these ways is to work with county residents to make sure that septic systems function property.

State grants are available to county residents to replace non-compliant subsurface sewage treatment systems. Otter Tail County serves as the lender and the cost of the system is assessed to the owner’s property taxes, paid off over 10 years.

Being respectful to county residents is the goal of the county Land and Resource Department. To that end, feedback forms are available after residents meet with county officials.

“My septic issue was handled quickly and now it is a non-issue,” said one county resident. “County staff members were polite and helpful.”

Said another county resident: “I value and enjoy the working relationships with county employees, even if I don’t always like the answers to some questions. At the same time, county employees are always respectful, helpful and friendly.”