LAYTON -- A proposal to create the first paramedic service in Layton survived its second hurdle Wednesday at a Davis County Commission meeting, but not everyone was completely sold on the idea.
Commissioners voted unanimously but apprehensively to endorse an agreement in which Davis County and Layton paramedics would work together and be co-licensed. A proposal to create a city paramedic unit was approved by Layton City Council last month.Commissioner Carol Page voiced several concerns with the agreement.
"My gut reaction is, I have a problem fragmenting a system that's not broken," she said, citing the quick response times and valiant efforts of the Davis County paramedic program.
Davis County Sheriff Bud Cox shared his concerns with the proposed agreement before presenting to commissioners a modified proposal with a "spirit of cooperation."
"I'm totally against taking a consolidated service and breaking it up into diversified pieces," he said. "I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place."
Cox says he is concerned with services within Davis County becoming increasingly fragmented. He says he would like the county's paramedic service to remain cohesive, but that co-licensure with Layton, although not ideal, is the next best thing.
Layton officials say the city has a large enough budget and population to warrant its own paramedic unit. The city is currently served by the Davis County paramedic program.
One of the selling points of the agreement was that Davis County's services would not be impacted by added services in Layton.
"It needs to be enhancing and not diminishing existing services," Page said.
If the joint licensure is approved by an Emergency Medical Services council and after a public hearing, Davis County and Layton will work together, sending the closest unit available to a call.
"Our pledge is to be partners," said Layton City Manager Alex Jensen.
Cox said EMS will likely review the proposal this summer, followed by the public hearing. Layton's paramedic service could be in operation next summer, he said.