The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to cancel the contract of the Wilkes Rescue Squad.
They cited a breach of contract related to providing advanced life-saving services, which led to disappointment among community members and squad members who were not given a chance to provide public comment.
The county’s attorney and commissioners discussed the history of the squad over the last seven months and the services they have provided under a yearly contract since 2011. The squad first received notice of noncompliance in September 2024, citing their inability to complete backup advanced life-saving services for EMS due to a lack of paramedics on board every ambulance while assisting calls.
The EMS director stated that since September, overtime EMS staff have been called to serve community events for $12,000, replacing the squad’s medical services at no cost. Chuck Smithey, Wilkes Rescue Squad Chairman, said, “Without the rescue squad there and being backup, the only thing is within EMS now. There is no backup. That’s why they’re paying. We went to the commissioners and said we’ll run just rescue, and EMS can run the ambulances. They wouldn’t even respond to us.”
The volunteer squad received $210,000 from the county to operate during the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Commissioners said their funding is paid in quarterly installments. Now that funding has been cancelled, given the contract’s end.
In place of the squad, five fire departments with similar qualifications or pending qualifications will fill the need for rescue services in the county. Jason Reavis, EMS Director for Wilkes County, said, “The other 7 or 8 agencies, there’s 9 total in Wilkes County, have all made a move to order heavy rescue equipment and try to be compliant in the heavy rescue realm.”
The squad has until September to get paramedics on staff full-time, employed through Wilkes EMS, to qualify as an advanced life-saving services backup. The county commissioners expressed hope to work on a new contract with the rescue squad to keep it intact.
WXII12.com contributed to this story