TOWER — The city council here has given the green light to exploring the creation of a joint powers board to operate the Tower Area Ambulance Service. At a special meeting last Thursday, the council authorized council member Bob Anderson to spend up to $2,000 to consult with an attorney familiar with the process for establishing a jointly run ambulance service.
Anderson told fellow council members that he had spoken with representatives of Vermilion Lake, Greenwood, and Breitung townships, who all seemed receptive to the idea. The three townships, along with Kugler, Eagles Nest, and a portion of Embarrass townships, are all included within the ambulance service’s territory. Under a joint powers arrangement, the board would have authority to manage the ambulance service and levy taxes to pay for any funding shortfalls. Taxes could be levied based on property value or as a set fee per improved property, similar to the solid waste assessment levied on properties in St. Louis County.
The creation of a special taxing district would be an alternative to the joint powers board, although either option would require the approval of the city and participating townships. Surrounding townships have contributed to ambulance capital purchases for years, but the city has had to cover operating losses in some recent years, although the service’s financial picture has improved somewhat more recently.
The possibility of a joint powers board managing the ambulance service has been talked about informally on the Tower Ambulance Commission, which is comprised of representatives from the city and the area townships that contribute to the service. This is the first time that the council has given the go-ahead to examine the possibility more closely. Anderson said he’ll be working with attorney Tony Gilchrist of the Town Law Center in Wayzata. Gilchrist has been involved in similar transitions with other ambulance services. Anderson said Gilchrist will create a draft joint powers agreement that could be used as a starting point for more discussion with area townships.
If ultimately approved, Anderson said the board would likely issue a Request for Proposals for an entity to operate the ambulance service, under the governance of the joint powers board.
The Ely ambulance service has been operated by a joint powers board for several years, although the board has had its share of struggles.
In other business at last week’s special meeting, the council gave the second reading and approval of the vacation of the Tower Harbor Court, a platted road that was included as part of the re-platting of the Tower Harbor. The new development plan at the harbor, which is slated to get underway within days, requires a different road alignment. That realignment first requires vacating the old road alignment, which the council has now completed.