Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Monday, September 22, 2008
Group wants ambulance issue taken to voters
Members of a local watchdog group opposed to starting a city-operated ambulance service are hoping to take the issue to the voters of La Crosse in the spring nonpartisan election.
Dave Drewes, head of Citizens for Responsible Government, said the group is crafting wording on the referendum and will begin circulating petitions in the coming weeks.
In August, La Crosse Mayor Mark Johnsrud proposed a city-run ambulance service, but then withdrew that proposal after it drew widespread public opposition.
Johnsrud has also supported creating a Joint Emergency Medical Services Commission to help guide the future of ambulance service in the county. As the La Crosse County Board works to form the commission, it remains unclear whether the city will be involved.
Drewes said members of his group, along with other opponents, are pushing the referendum and not waiting to see the city’s next move.
“The city is persisting, and it’s working toward giving no indication they’re backing away from a city-run ambulance,” Drewes said.
Because the city has the ability to start the service if it wishes, Drewes said, a referendum may be the only way for the public to act.
“If we could get positives from the council members that they think it’s a bad idea that would take care of it, too. But so far they haven’t responded or seemed in favor of what the mayor is proposing,” Drewes added.
CRG members and other opponents claim a city-run service would hurt the entire EMS system for county residents as well as residents of neighboring counties.
It will require 2,900 signatures to get the measure put on the April ballot, but organizers are hoping to get 3,500 registered voters to sign the petitions that would then be turned into the city for approval, Drewes said.
Petitions likely will not be circulated until early October.
“We’re trying to get the best input we can from legal sources and members to find the best way to present (the referendum),” Drewes said. “The referendum has to be worded positively. It can’t ask a question like, ‘should the city of La Crosse be in the ambulance business.’ So we have to be careful about how it’s worded.”
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