Bettendorf City Council says increasing fire/medical service and a decision on the possible Middle Park community center referendum to be its top budget priorities for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
In a weekend-long goal-setting session, the top policy priority was expanding fire and medical services.
"This is aimed at Surrey Heights station, and I would say that their goal is to have medical and fire staffing 24/7," Ploehn said. "It will be with a combination of paid firefighters, part-time firefighters and asking Medic EMS to add an additional ambulance inside the city."
Fire Chief Steve Knorrek asked for a minimum of two paid personnel at that station 24/7, Ploehn said. It is currently staffed by volunteers during overnight hours, a policy that has drawn criticism.
In July, Matt Brown, 27, died of an asthma attack, and his parents, Robert and Jodi Brown, attribute his death, in part, to the lack of staffing at Surrey Heights the night he had the attack. Emergency medical help had to come from downtown, which took extra time. They have advocated for extra staffing.