Dodge County Executive Committee recommended to advance EMS Collaboration plan

Dodge County Unanimously Backs Countywide EMS Collaboration Plan

A new collaborative framework for emergency medical services moved closer to reality in Dodge County this week, as the Executive Committee unanimously recommended creating a countywide EMS committee. The move sets the stage for a multi-year effort to evaluate and strengthen the emergency response infrastructure that serves every community in the region.

The stakes are simple but profound: when someone calls 911, they expect help to arrive. For years, Dodge County’s system has faced a challenge, one rooted in the reliance on volunteers but strained by their dwindling numbers. The new committee is the county’s answer to that challenge, aiming to ensure that reliable emergency response and positive outcomes for constituents by supporting the organizations and individuals who provide these essential services.

From Volunteer Reliance to Regional Strategy

The conversation didn’t begin this week. In July 2026, Sheriff Dale Schmidt restarted talks with local fire and EMS providers, municipalities, and elected officials to identify the specific hurdles facing emergency medical services. This effort was a direct response to a 2020 study that had already sounded the alarm. That study, a review of the county’s EMS system, highlighted two critical issues: a heavy reliance on volunteers and a declining volunteer participation, which was shrinking the pool of trained personnel available.

“The county recognizes how critical EMS is to the success and well-being of our communities,” said Dodge County Board Chair Dave Frohling, echoing the sentiment that underpins the entire initiative. The proposed committee would establish an organized platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, assess needs across the county, and pursue long-term, viable solutions.

“Our part in this conversation is to provide support for the mission,” Board Vice Chair Andrew Johnson added. “We want to ensure that every community in Dodge County has well-supported emergency services while working collaboratively to address the resource challenges facing so many EMS organizations.”

A Collaborative Model for a Common Problem

The plan’s strength lies in its collaborative design. The proposed committee is built on the principle of partnership. It will give local fire and EMS providers, municipalities, and elected officials a structured seat at the table. This ensures that the people on the front lines of emergency response have a direct voice in shaping the future of the system. The focus will be on evaluating service needs, improving coordination between different agencies, and developing recommendations that will support the long-term sustainability of EMS.

Dodge County Executive Committee recommended to advance EMS Collaboration plan — Photo: co.dodge.wi.gov

This challenge is far from unique to Dodge County. Across Wisconsin, counties are grappling with the same pressures: volunteer shortages, rising costs for education and operations, and the need for a more resilient system. At the state level, lawmakers created an EMS education reimbursement program through 2025 Wisconsin Act 35, and the UW School of Medicine employs a Rural EMS Outreach Manager. Other counties have also forged ahead with regional models. Following an extensive evaluation of its EMS operations, Chippewa County recently advised the creation of a position for a county-level EMS Coordinator, while Vilas County shifted toward a shared-funding EMS district—a strategy that reportedly brought average response times down to approximately 13 minutes, compared to the 40 minutes or more seen in some locations under the previous system.

What’s Next for Dodge County’s EMS Future

The details of how this new committee will operate are still being finalized. The county’s budget process, which concludes later this month, will be the next step in determining the committee’s structure, membership, and specific responsibilities. Looking ahead, the county anticipates hiring an EMS coordinator in 2027, a key position that will help manage the broader EMS planning initiative.