Potential Meeting May Determine Future of Theresa Ambulance Services

The uncertain future of Theresa Ambulance Services dominated the discussion during the Village of Theresa Finance Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, November 3.

The Theresa Ambulance Services has struggled with staffing and management, limiting its ability to respond to calls. A month ago, the ambulance service had three applicants; however, the applications were withdrawn.

Discussion about the ambulance’s future and the possibility of the village contracting with City of Mayville Emergency Medical Services began in closed session.

When the committee reconvened into open session, it opened the floor for members of the ambulance service and fire department to provide further insight and suggestions.

Members of the agencies informed the committee that Theresa Ambulance Services is working on a coverage agreement with Mayville EMS, so both agencies are paged for a call.

They also recommended next steps and expressed frustration with the lack of communication from management and the Ambulance Commission.

“Our calls are going to be covered by Mayville if that agreement gets in place,” said a retired ambulance and fire department member. “Your first priority, the township’s first priority, and the [Ambulance] Commission’s [first priority is] . . . to begin with a meeting of all of the staff of the ambulance service: the providers, the EMTs, the drivers. They need to get collected in a meeting . . . and have them contribute.”

The speaker expressed that the proposed meeting would not be an official Ambulance Commission meeting but an open conversation amongst past and present ambulance members about the service’s future.

“If they don’t want to take call time again, you’d better call Mayville. I’m the first guy to tell you, ‘contract out.’ If they’re willing to save the ambulance service, it needs to be them. It doesn’t need to be a coordinator or a full-time EMT,” the retired member continued. “None of these people have even been told about this turmoil . . . That’s why it needs to start with those people. If we don’t have them, we’re done. It’s that simple.”

“We were never informed,” added another Theresa Ambulance and fire department member. “How I found out that other communities, including our own, were going outside to get quotes from other services was from a person from Lomira.”

The Village of Lomira contracts ambulance services with Theresa and accounts for roughly half of the calls it receives. Due to Theresa Ambulance’s uncertain future, Lomira has been investigating contracting for EMS services with another agency, such as Campbellsport or Mayville. The Lomira Village Board will decide whether it will continue contracting ambulance services with Theresa at its next meeting on Wednesday, November 12.

“Once we lose our ambulance, we’re not getting it back. It’s not a three-month deal to write an application and pay a fee. You don’t get it that quickly, so this is our chance,” stated another member.

Committee Chair Dave Brandenburg volunteered to ask Ambulance Commission Chair Brian Ries to plan a meeting of Theresa Ambulance Services members before the Lomira Village Board meeting.

In case the ambulance meeting does not occur or Lomira does not renew its contract, the committee discussed asking Mayville EMS for the cost of contracting its services.

“If Lomira leaves, I don’t have any faith that we’re going to make this work financially because we’re going to lose too many calls,” said Chair Brandenburg. “We do not have to decide anything tonight as a board. I would say at the very least we ask for a five-year number from Mayville.”

A motion to get a five-year quote from City of Mayville Emergency Medical Services was made by Trustee Joe Haak and passed unanimously.

Committee Matters:
• The Finance Committee of the Whole discussed the 2026 wage scale. The wage scale includes a 3.14% increase for village employees. Chair Brandenburg made the motion to approve the 2026 wage scale, which passed unanimously.
• The committee unanimously approved the preliminary 2026 budget for publication in a motion made by Trustee Haak.