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Washington Evening Journal
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Ambulance director to start first responders unit for Marengo
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MARENGO — Adam Rabe, Iowa County Emergency Medical Services director and Marengo mayor, asked the Marengo City Council this month if it would be open to sponsoring a first responders unit for the City of Marengo.
Councilwoman Jenni Olson said she liked the idea and had been surprised when she learned that Marengo didn’t already have one.
Sometimes both ambulances are out on calls, and first responders are the first on the scene of a call, said Rabe. Right now, Williamsburg’s first responders have to cover because Marengo doesn’t have first responders, he said.
But first responders need someone to own the unit, Rabe said. He could start a nonprofit to own the first responders, but he didn’t want to deal with the bookkeeping.
The first responders wouldn’t ask the city for money, Rabe said. It would fund itself through fundraisers and grants.
But if the city owned the unit, it would be covered by the city’s liability insurance and the city would handle the accounting.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Councilman Travis Schlabach.
Getting the organization running will take time, said Rabe. He has to recruit volunteers, train them and raise money to pay for the training.
Rabe wanted to make sure the city would support the agency before he filled out all the paperwork with the state.
Rabe wanted to make sure that funds raised for the first responders would be earmarked for that organization by the city. Financial Manager Ellen O’Rourke said it wouldn’t be any different from the fire department, which is also a volunteer organization with money under city control.
City Administrator Karla Mark said the city should create a policy to assure that the money is used only for the first responders. That way future councils won’t be able to use the money for something else.
Rabe said he would start the application process and will look for grants for equipment. He’ll work with O’Rourke, who will be the city administrator after the first of the new year, on organizational details.
