Whitehall ambulance dispute simmers as county expresses desire to let residents in valley decide

Things got a little heated last week when the Jefferson County Commission accepted public comment on a resolution to hold a vote on forming an ambulance district in the southern portion of the county. 

“All we’re doing is putting it out to the voters whether they want it or not,” explained Commission Chair Cory Kirsch. 

Calling for the vote is an attempt to resolve an ambulance issue that has embroiled the Whitehall area for more than a year. Differences between city officials and officials with the Whitehall ambulance service led to a split that resulted in the formation of a new ambulance service to take calls outside of the Whitehall city limits. As proposed, the Jefferson Valley Regional EMS & Rescue Ambulance District would extend throughout the southern portion of the county north to about Dunn Canyon.