DARLINGTON — After more than nine months of disagreements and uncertainty, Darlington has its ambulance workers back. 

Green County EMS announced Tuesday that it reached an agreement with private nonprofit Rural Medical Ambulance Service. 

Former RMAS Director Bridget Schuchart, one of the returning EMTs, was heartened at being able to once again provide service to area residents.

“It’s our family, our friends, our neighbors, our community,” Schuchart said. “Everybody has a passion in EMS or they wouldn’t do it. … I think it’s a very good option for the community to have local people back. There’s a lot to be said for a familiar face in a time of need.”

EMS Chief Dan Nufer said RMAS had contacted him weeks ago asking for help. Last week, he said he was informed Paramount Ambulance of Dubuque was severing contract work with the city Aug. 1.

A plan was devised quickly. Green County EMS leased two ambulances, the equipment and building owned by RMAS for $1. They will provide EMT services for the next year. Nufer said there are no plans for arrangements beyond that timeline. 

Municipalities are required by the state to keep emergency response services. In April, the majority of volunteer EMTs under RMAS quit after disagreements between the RMAS Board of Directors, the volunteers and Darlington City Council. But through the agreement with Green County EMS, more than two dozen volunteer EMTs have returned to their posts, some taking their first call in months on Wednesday morning.

“They are now members of Green County EMS,” Nufer said. “They’re pretty excited to be back in the saddle and we’re happy to help them.”

Nufer added that all of the boards of directors have been supportive of the arrangement. 

RMAS has served the city for decades. It was established in 1978 and covers the areas of Gratiot, Lamont, Wiota, Fayette, Willow Springs and Seymour as well as Darlington, where it is based. Problems that eventually led to Schuchart’s resignation March 5 began in November, when member discussion began over whether the nonprofit should be replaced with a new company, likely to require a higher rate. 

Schuchart had met with RMAS Board members, who had expressed staffing concerns, and told them to provide cost estimates for additional help to fill in for the lack of volunteers. During a Nov. 21 meeting, the board discussed the possibility of a private group taking over, with RMAS sold to the new company. 

In a statement at the time, Schuchart wrote that volunteers were “shocked” at the proposal by the board to Darlington City Council to replace volunteers with Paramount. 

“We did not suggest, nor do we support this recommendation, as it will negatively impact the service provided to our coverage area while substantially increasing the cost,” the statement said.

RMAS Board President Dave Ohnstad refuted the idea that the group had ever attempted to privatize, saying they were “accused” of the false claim during a meeting June 27.

“This was not the intent and we made it very clear in that meeting that we were just being proactive and looking at options,” Ohnstad said. 

The city had been utilizing Paramount Ambulance services since May, but there had been complaints about delayed response times, prompting public disapproval. Paramount President Marvin Ney attended the RMAS Board meeting June 27 and informed members of the board that Nufer said members of Green County EMS even had concerns over the coverage because some had family in the area.

The city had been grappling with addressing issues in recent meetings. On June 5, Mayor David Brunig permitted an open discussion on the topic during the council meeting, during which Alderman Don Osterday compared the relationship between the RMAS board and EMTs to a long-term marriage that had turned bad. 

“…for some reason things fall apart,” Osterday said. “I think we’re at the point of irreconcilable differences. As much as we would like the board and EMTs to get back together, I don’t think they ever will.”

During that same meeting, the city discussed whether to take over ambulance services as a city-run operation. The conflict came to a head July 3 when city council members voted 4-3 to remove the municipality from a contract with RMAS after 40 years. They had planned to pursue a city ambulance service for a total expense of roughly $80,000. At the time, the total net income looked to be just over $6,000. But after Nufer approached the board with an offer to help, the new agreement was reached.

Darlington Police Chief Jason King, an RMAS crew member, said the group was looking to make a positive change with new leadership and renewed hope.

“It’s a new day for EMS in Darlington,” King said. “We’re optimistic.”

Schuchart, who has been an EMT for 21 years, also chose to rejoin. She said after Nufer met with volunteers and explained how the Green County department works, EMTs embraced the chance to restart their work. 

“Ultimately, every one of the former volunteers agreed to come back with Green County EMS,” Schuchart said. “Everybody is really excited, really looking forward to getting back to it and anxiously awaiting the opportunities … I just think the partnership together is going to be really good for our community.”

— Brian Lund and Kayla Barnes of The Republican Journal contributed reporting to this story.