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The Regional Board of Mayors again rescheduled the Whole-Community Town Hall, and much of the discussion will center on the possible creation of a regional EMS district for ambulance services.

The joint public meeting will take place Saturday, May 18, at 10:30 a.m. at the Coulee Dam Ballroom, and will include time for comments from attendees. The Star editor and publisher Scott Hunter will moderate the event. 

The mayors whittled the agenda to two priority items: discussion of a regional EMS district, and updates on upcoming highway chipseal repair projects shared between Coulee Dam, Grand Coulee and Electric City. 

The EMS district is separate from a possible future fire district. While a fire district is still on the table, that discussion will be postponed, as EMS was deemed a priority between the two. The proposed animal control discussion item has also been postponed due to time constraints.

“We’re all getting older, and we’re all going to need those services,” said Coulee Dam Mayor Bob Poch. “The services are getting thinner and thinner – not that they’re not doing a damn good job. But at the same time, I can see where the stress level is coming in from their side, and they’re going to need some help. They need it now.”  

Creating an EMS district is a defined formal process. It involves drafting interlocal agreements between jurisdictions, and would likely follow the boundaries of the existing hospital district, according to Grand Coulee Mayor Mike Eylar. 

An EMS levy could be up to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for either 6 years, 10 years, or a permanent levy, depending on what the committee drafts for the ballot. Grand Coulee Fire Chief Ryan Fish will present on the EMS district, according to Eylar. 

If the first meeting is successful and well-attended, the mayors will consider hosting more in the future to cover additional topics.