(STURGIS) – A new, temporary agreement for ambulance service in Sturgis has been reached between the City and Life Care.

During last week's meeting Sturgis Director of Public Safety Ryan Banaszak shared with the City Commission that Life Care response times have been longer for the last several quarters due to employee shortages with the ambulance company. A year ago, Sturgis and other area communities agreed to a one year contract with Life Care, but have seen those response times continue to increase.

Banaszak says he and Steve Frisbie of Life Care have been talking, and came up with the Safety Net Ambulance agreement, as Banaszak explains. ...... {LISTEN}.

Presently, all Sturgis Firefighters are qualified to staff a BLS ambulance without additional training or certifications.

Banaszak says the BLS ambulance would only be available if the Sturgis Fire Department is fully staffed which is three firefighters per shift.

The City Commission approved the agreement by a unanimous vote.