County To Provide EMS Service

Yancey County Commissioners voted February 4th to take over the EMS Service when the Mission Health contract runs out at the end of June. After hearing proposals from Watauga Medics, American Medical Response and HCA in January county officials decided they could provide the same service as the county currently has at a lot less cost. The county owns the EMS building and will purchase equipment and vehicles. EMS employees would work for the county and plans are to still have two paramedics on each truck, with three trucks in service at all times and one for backup.