The county's emergency medical service reported its call volume is down roughly half compared with the same month a year ago but expects call levels to rise again; staff also said two new ambulances are on order and both are now scheduled to arrive in 2026.

Jeremy (ambulance service) told the board his service saw call levels about half of what they were a year earlier but said that typically the number rises. He said two advanced staff members completed advanced certification and the agency has two ambulances on order. "They were supposed to arrive in '25 and '26. They are both now slated to arrive in '26, one month apart," Jeremy said.

Service staff described higher mileage totals on county ambulances because of frequent out-of-county transfers to distant hospitals. "On every ambulance about 50,000 miles a year," Jeremy said, and staff reported remounting ambulances when they reach about 150,000 miles. Staff said longer transfers (for example, to Indianapolis, St. Louis or Chicago) are driven by capacity constraints at closer hospitals.

No formal board action was taken on ambulance purchases at the meeting; the board was informed of fleet timing and replacement plans. Ending: The ambulance service will continue planned fleet rotations and said staff would return with operational details as needed.