Residents urge cooperation in County Ambulance dispute

Find a way to work together.
That was the resounding message from residents at an emergency joint meeting of the Moody County Commission and Flandreau city leaders last week. The meeting focused on the future of the county’s ambulance service and whether it will continue serving Flandreau.
Leaders from both entities, at the start, outlined how they’ve reached the current impasse. The county has operated the ambulance service for decades but faces growing financial losses as reimbursement rates shrink and costs rise.
Auditor Tawny Heinemann and Commissioner Dave Reker said the service has run at a loss of upwards of $75,000 annually since 2019. Throughout the meeting, they and others stressed the county’s need for additional support to sustain operations.
State law does not require counties to provide ambulance services, and most counties do not take on the responsibility. Currently, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe provides a $10,000 annual stipend to the county, while taxpayers countywide fund the rest of the operation.
County officials say a majority of the calls — the actual number still debated — come from within the city of Flandreau. They are asking the city to contribute an annual stipend of $25,000 to sustain operations. Another option, they proposed, is for the city to transfer ownership of the old fire hall, currently vacant and awaiting appraisal, to the county for ambulance use.
If no additional support is provided, county officials have clearly stated in recent meetings that they are considering ending ambulance services to Flandreau altogether.
County officials estimate the city generates 60% of ambulance calls, including transfers from Avera Flandreau Hospital. Flandreau City Administrator Cohl Turnquist questioned the figure, suggesting it might be closer to 35% to 50%.
“If the premise is that Flandreau bears the majority of the calls, and therefore the cost, I don’t believe that’s a reasonable starting point for discussion,” Turnquist said.
City Council President Brad Bjerke voiced frustration with the county’s request to transfer the fire hall at no cost.

“Some 30 years ago, I was a captain on the Fire Department and I was an EMT. I also took calls and drove the ambulance out of the back of the Sheriff’s Office,” Bjerke said.
“The access was bad then and it is now. The county has done nothing about it and now they want it to be the city’s problem.”
Having just built a new fire station, Bjerke emphasized that the city has long intended to replenish its capital improvement funds through the sale or auction of the old fire hall.
“We can’t just give it away,” Bjerke said.
He proposed selling the fire hall to the county with stipulations, including the city’s ability to repurchase it if the space is no longer used for ambulance services.
Community members weighed in, sharing personal stories and concerns.
“You’re not taking into account the human part of it,” said Ione Johnson, who spoke about her husband’s reliance on the ambulance.
“If someone is having a heart attack, you’re not going to wait an hour for an ambulance from Brookings.”
Mark Bonrud, a longtime resident, former mayor, and former EMT, emphasized the need for cooperation. He expressed frustration over threats to end the ambulance service.
“You sound like our …politicians in Washington,” Bonrud said.
“If you don’t like it, we’re going to shut the government down. That’s not the way to do a business, that’s not what you do when you’re dealing with human lives. Any of you could need the ambulance at any time…the two entities need to get together.”
His comments received applause from the crowd.
Troy Naasz, a former member of both the ambulance and fire crews, questioned county spending decisions. He pointed to the cost of paying someone out of state to manage the ambulance service and criticized the $3,000 sale of a used ambulance, noting he found a similar vehicle with higher mileage recently listed for nearly $90,000.
Kayla Charles challenged the city to reprioritize some of its funding and reconsider freely handing out over $20,000 each year to local event and non-profit groups and instead prioritize it toward supporting the ambulance services if that is what is needed to keep the services available within the city.
Despite the tensions, all parties agreed on the importance of preserving the ambulance service.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to work toward sustainable solutions while addressing concerns about funding, management, and call volume data.
City Council meetings are streamed live on the first and third Monday evenings each month and saved for later viewing at cityofflandreau.com. Moody County Commission meetings, held the first and third Tuesday mornings, are open to the public but unavailable through live streaming or recording services. Agendas are posted at moodycounty.net.