When the Carroll County Council found the funding to staff a third ambulance in 2010, it was a welcome relief to emergency medical services director Mike Durr. Finding a place to house the additional ambulance was not a critical concern because there is room in the garage facility in Delphi.

However when it became public knowledge that an alternate location would be considered, the towns of Camden and Flora submitted proposals to house the third ambulance. Durr declined to make a decision about the future home of the ambulance without consulting with the EMS committee, established to address funding issues, after the county was no longer able to support four, and then three, ambulances in the past three years.

After discussing the situation Monday evening, the committee decided to leave the additional ambulance in Delphi, at least for the time being. Although a grant application for a permanent location for the ambulance in Camden is being written by the Kankakee Iroquois Regional Planning Commission (K-IRPC), committee members decided by consensus they are not ready to commit to a grant to fund a building project. The committee will review proposals and tour potential facilities with contractors before making a decision about another location.

Committee members discussed different criteria and ways to look at the area of the county with most need. Durr reported that the Delphi area has had 899 runs this year and a total of 964 last year. Runs in the Flora area, which includes Camden, were 356 this year and 494 last year.

County council member Ron Slavens said income has to be taken into consideration. He said if an ambulance was located in the Yeoman area, revenue from Jefferson Township would return to the county. Slavens said it is wise to also consider potential growth areas for future income.

No date or time was decided for the next meeting.