OTTAWA — Franklin County EMS director Nick Robbins said that two counties are looking at starting new ambulance services serves as a warning against privatizing EMS services. Robbins has been asked by Osage and Linn counties to meet with officials in those counties on how to start county ambulance services. Both counties turned over their public services to a private company a few years ago. Officials aren’t happy with the private ambulance service that operates in the two counties. The same service covers both counties as well as other counties. Robbins says starting an ambulance service is expensive and could cost nearly $250,000 per ambulance, not counting personnel. County administrator Lisa Johnson said she’s heard some discussion about privatizing the Franklin County EMS but she’d wouldn’t recommend because any private service would cost more and provide less service.
