Emergency Medical Service
WHY THIS MATTERS TO DISTRICT 2:
Earlier this year, Ringdahl Ambulance told area cities and townships it was having serious financial problems. In June, it told the Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services it would not renew its license to serve the Pelican Rapids primary service area.
This state license gives an ambulance provider the right and the duty to provide ambulance service in a set area. Ringdahl’s current license ends in March 2027. If nothing is done, people and businesses in the area will not have ambulance service.
The Pelican Rapids primary service area includes the cities of Pelican Rapids, Elizabeth, Vergas, Erhard, and Rothsay. It also covers the townships of Candor, Dora, Dunn, Erhards Grove, Friberg, Lida, Maine, Maplewood, Norwegian Grove, Oscar, Pelican, Scambler, Star Lake, and Trondhjem.
JEFF’S RESPONSE AFTER ATTENDING THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING ON OCTOBER 5, 2026:
EMS!  There are options. We’ve had residents/township working on this issue and living with this issue well before the board became involved (over four years). One of the best options would be another private service applying for the PSA (primary service area) and hold that license in our area for the next two years. I attended the EMS meeting last night in Pelican Rapids. First, the questions from our residents, township board members, and multiple EMS responders were excellent! Questions were thought out and had a precise direction. Many times there was no answer. It is absolutely embarrassing trying to make it into a political issue for votes.
We have more than one route to preserve EMS: an SSD (subordinate service district), a regional EMS taxing district, joint powers contracted service, and assistance through Minnesota's Office of Emergency Medical Services. OEMS can help our communities navigate licensing and EMS requirements and administers state and federal funding programs that can support staffing, EMT training, operating deficits and other efforts to strengthen rural ambulance services. We should be pursuing every available option and every available funding source before placing the full burden on local taxpayers. A formula needs to be addressed on how to pay for the service. In the event that the county holds the PSA. Many questions on how that is paid for. If Otter Tail County applies and holds the PSA, then it would be held open for bids from ambulance service companies. What happens if no one bids? There’s an option with that, and that’s being asked for answers. Please don’t fall for the fear tactic, I am confident that there will be continued EMS services in the area. Of course we hear this is happening all over, but here we are in district two, the one suffering again.  All other places in OtterTail County have service.  There are many moving parts to this and thankfully we have EMS professionals, townships and residents that have experience to work off of. 
NEXT MEETING INFORMATION
PUBLIC MEETING AT THE PELICAN RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOL
Emergency Medical Service Subordinate Service District Public Hearing
Monday, October 12, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Pelican Rapids High School
Residents will have the opportunity to offer comments before any formal action related to the proposed Subordinate Service District to support emergency medical services in the Pelican Rapids Primary Service Area.
The meeting may also be attended virtually. View the complete meeting information and Microsoft Teams access on the Otter Tail County website.
Source: Otter Tail County