Superior’s City Council is going to explore a fire department run ambulance service.

The council on Tuesday referred exploration to the city’s finance and public safety committed

Councilor Greg Mertzig had asked the council to create a fact-finding commission to investigate the pros and cons of an ambulance service operated by the city’s fire department.

Mayor Dave Ross said he doesn’t believe the proposal he’s seen, which excludes administrative costs to handle billing and collections, and doesn’t factor in the cost of insurance, would make an ambulance service run by the fire department a viable option. Ross did support referring the matter to established council committees.

Currently, the fire department handles emergency medical response. Gold Cross, operated by the nonprofit Mayo Clinic handles emergency transport in the city.

Douglas County did provide ambulance service countywide until it was sold in 1996 because it was losing money and property owners were subsidizing the service.

Councilor Ed Anderson said his father had worked for the Superior Fire Department’s ambulance service in the 1950s.

Superior Telegram, 10/20/09

Tags: ambulance, Gold Cross, Transportation