The City of Nekoosa will lose its ambulance service next year, after a vote from the city council.
Angry residents filled the council chambers at the municipal building Tuesday night, begging city leaders not to sign a contract with the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department.
In the meeting, members of the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department said the contract would allow for two paramedics on each call to Nekoosa, and that response times would be around 10 to 15 minutes.
Council members said the decision came because of the ambulance service's struggle to find workers, but residents say they weren't properly informed that this decision was on the table at all. Even EMS workers themselves said they only found out about the possible decision just last night.
The council voted 5-3 to approve the contract with Wisconsin Rapids. The change will go into effect in January of 2022.