The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners has directed staff to pursue the creation of a Subordinate Service District (SSD) to ensure emergency medical services (EMS) continue in the Pelican Rapids area. The action follows months of collaboration with local townships and cities after Ringdahl Ambulance Pelican Rapids notified communities that financial challenges threatened its ability to sustain services.
In March 2026, Ringdahl Ambulance notified cities and townships within its Primary Service Area (PSA) of significant financial shortfalls. An informational session followed in April 2026 to explore options available under Minnesota law. State statute allows counties to support EMS providers through a joint powers agreement, special taxing district, or subordinate service district.
In June, Ringdahl Ambulance formally notified the Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services that it does not intend to renew its Primary Service Area license for the Pelican Rapids service area (License No. 0192) upon its expiration in 2027. The notice was provided well in advance to allow adequate time for service continuity planning. Otter Tail County is acting on that timeline to protect residents from any gap in emergency coverage.
Commissioner Wayne Johnson led outreach efforts to townships and cities within the Ringdahl Ambulance PSA. Those conversations made it clear that communities prefer the SSD model under Minnesota Chapter 357B. An SSD is a compact and contiguous district within a county. Under this structure, the county could apply for a PSA license, contract with an EMS provider through a request for proposals (RFP) and set property taxes or parcel fees to fund the service.
“The communities I represent made one thing very clear: emergency medical services are not optional. When someone calls 911, help has to come,” commented Commissioner Wayne Johnson (District 2). “I’m grateful for the partnership we’ve built with our townships and cities, and I’m committed to making sure the Pelican Rapids area has the reliable EMS coverage it deserves.”
On June 11, 2026, County Administrator Nicole Hansen, along with Commissioners Johnson and Sean Sullivan, County Attorney Michelle Eldien, and Emergency Manager Patrick Waletzko, met with Ringdahl Ambulance representatives Ken Krupich and Adam Parker. Ringdahl Ambulance expressed a desire to continue serving the area but confirmed that financial constraints prevent it from renewing its PSA license, which expires in March 2027.
Commissioner Johnson reiterated, “Our residents in the Pelican Rapids area deserve to know that help is on the way when they need it most. This is a critical service, and the county is taking proactive steps to make sure there is no gap in coverage. The strong support we’ve seen from local townships and cities reflects just how important this issue is to the entire community.”
The county notes that two small portions of the Ringdahl Ambulance PSA fall within Wilkin County and cannot be included in an SSD. The county will explore alternative mechanisms, such as a joint powers agreement or contract arrangement, to ensure those areas also receive coverage.
Staff will now move forward with the steps required to establish the SSD, including the formal application process and engagement with the Office of EMS. The county will continue to keep affected communities informed as the process develops.