The Wapello County Board of Supervisors and the Ottumwa City Council will meet jointly with the Wapello County EMS Advisory Council (EMSAC) on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa. The meeting is open to the public.
EMSAC will present Phase 1 of its Wapello County EMS System Recommendation. The plan, titled “It Takes a
System,” shows how the ambulance service (the hub) and the supporting services around it (the spokes) work
together as one countywide system.
Phase 1 pairs an interim recommendation for the ambulance hub with permanent recommendations for the spokes, which EMSAC adopted on September 30, 2026. The interim hub recommendation sets two staffed advanced life support (ALS) ambulance crews, 24 hours a day, as the minimum service level. EMSAC will also outline an interim funding strategy and its long-range work plan.
“Emergency medical care in Wapello County depends on more than an ambulance. It takes 911 dispatchers, first responders, trained bystanders and our hospital working together. This recommendation is about making that whole system dependable for every resident,” said Tim Richmond, EMSAC Chair and Wapello County Emergency Management Director.
The meeting is for presentation and discussion only. No formal action is scheduled for the Board of Supervisors or the City Council.
Meeting details
- When: Monday, October 26, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
- Where: Bridge View Center, 102 Church Street, Ottumwa, Iowa
- Who: Wapello County Board of Supervisors, Ottumwa City Council, and the Wapello County EMS Advisory Council
- Public comment: The agenda sets time for questions from elected officials, followed by public questions and comment.
- Next steps to be reviewed: EMSAC will review interim funding requests on November 4, 2026. Phase 2, a study of a public operator model, begins January 13, 2027.
- Accommodations: Bridge View Center is an ADA-compliant facility. Anyone who needs an accommodation to take part should contact Bridge View Center at (641) 684-7000 before the meeting.
