The city of Port Clinton is taking steps to begin handling emergency medical services next year.
On Tuesday, Port Clinton City Council unanimously passed an ordinance authorizing the creation of an emergency medical and ambulance service within the Port Clinton Fire Department.
According to Chief Kent Johnson, the new EMS services will operate as part of the Port Clinton Fire Department as one agency. They are expected to take over medical-related emergency 911 calls in the city, as well as Bay and Portage township, between April and July of next year.
In April of this year, North Central EMS, which currently provides emergency medical services in Port Clinton, informed city officials that they would not be extending their contract with the city, which expires next year, without a substantial increase in costs.
That was later confirmed in a followup meeting with city officials in August.