If what I’m hearing is any indication, a zealous opposition is building against the La Crosse mayor and fire chief’s plan for a city-run ambulance.

The grand unveiling of the proposal Wednesday unleashed the usual suspects but looks to have caught even the attention of the relatively less engaged: The first-time callers.
I’ve checked with some council members in the last few days to get a sense of what they’re hearing — and to state and restate the obvious, people aren’t impressed.

The public and some aldermen who haven’t been in the inner circle, so to speak, want to know what the compelling reason is for the move. If they were aware of a flaw in the current service, they might find the purported fix much more palatable.

“By and large, they don’t believe the service will be any better,” council member Jim Bloedorn said. “And they’re convinced it’s going to cost more money. As am I.”

Bloedorn, who represents the swath of La Crosse south of La Crosse Street and west of 11th Street, said he received just a few phone calls from people in favor of the service.

He qualified each of those was a firefighter.

Despite being a freshly appointed alderman, Lorraine Decker said she has received several calls, all adamantly opposed to the plan.

“I’m listening to my constituents and gathering information,” she said. “I want what’s best for the community as a whole.”

Council member Dick Swantz said he’s taken about a half-dozen constituent calls.

“No one thinks this is a good idea. They have real, genuine concerns about whether we should do this or not,” he said.

Andrea Richmond said a steady stream of calls came in from her North Side district Thursday and Friday and started up again Monday.

“I haven’t had one person call that was in favor of this,” she said. People even are stopping her on the street, she said, adding, “The more, the merrier.”

Of the aldermen I spoke with, Audrey Kader proved the exception. The southwest La Crosse council member said she was surprised not to have received any calls.

“Apparently, my district is not up in arms,” she said.

Council President Bill Harnden said he got a “flurry” of objectors calling before Wednesday’s meeting but now they’ve subsided.

He told the callers he’d call them back after last week’s meeting, thinking the session would change their minds or at least ease the tension.

“It’s not getting into the business just for the sake of getting into the business,” Harnden said. “Ours compared to others is good, but I just want to make sure we’re getting the very best. And if the argument is to stay out of business just for the sake of getting out of business, you have to get past it.”

Samantha Marcus can be reached at (608) 791-8220 or smarcus@lacrossetribune.com.

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