Morrow County finalizes ambulance service areas
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, August 27th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HEPPNER – Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson says it’s his understanding that the controversy that erupted over ambulance service areas in the county has been resolved.
“All the ambulance service agreements here in Morrow County are completed and the contracts are signed,” he said.
Nelson said getting to a resolution was a long process and he can’t speak to the specifics of the steps along the way. However, he can address the resolution.
“Morrow County has created three different ambulance service areas,” he said. “(They are) basically the Boardman area, North Area including Irrigon, and the South area for all of southern Morrow County.”
The Boardman ASA has been awarded to the Boardman Fire Rescue District. The North and South ASAs are awarded to the Morrow County Health District. He said that for the past several months, Boardman Fire has been covering as the temporary ambulance provider in the county. He believes Morrow County Health will take back those specified ambulance service areas over the next few weeks.
Nelson credited Morrow County Administrator Matt Jenson and attorney Bob Blackmore of Lake Oswego, who was hired by the county to help them resolve the legal issues involved.
“This does not mean that ASA issues are gone away now,” Nelson said. “The county also created the oversight group that will help oversee ASA issues that come up made up of county and public members.”
