To the Mayors, Village Boards, and Community Leaders of McDonough County, Our county faces an issue that affects every town, every family, every farm, and every business: dependable ambulance service. No matter where someone lives-Macomb, Bushnell, Colchester, Industry, Blandinsville, Tennessee, Sciota, or any rural road in between-when an emergency happens, people expect help to come quickly.
That expectation is reasonable. But it is not free.
Ambulance service today requires trained personnel, 24-hour staffing, equipment, fuel, insurance, dispatch coordination, maintenance, and constant readiness. No single small town can efficiently shoulder that burden alone. Even larger communities benefit when costs and responsibilities are shared.
This is why now is the time for all towns in McDonough County to become financial partners in a countywide ambulance solution. This is not about helping one town over another. It is about protecting every resident equally.
A countywide plan can provide: • More stable emergency coverage
• Fairer sharing of costs
• Better long-term planning • Stronger local control
• Protection for seniors, families, schools, and businesses • Reduced risk of sudden crisis funding later If we wait until service weakens or fails, the eventual solution will almost certainly cost more and offer fewer local choices.
The most practical path is a transparent formula where the county, hospital, towns, and service revenue all contribute. When everyone participates, no one carries the burden alone. Every community in this county depends on ambulance service, even if it is only needed a few times each year. In those moments, nothing feels more important. No town is too small to need an ambulance. No town is large enough to solve this challenge alone.
Now is the time for leadership, cooperation, and a commitment to the safety of all citizens of McDonough County.
Respectfully,
Jere Greul Industry
