Thursday, January 22, 2026 |
Photo – SCWEMS ambulance barn – Bigfoot99 file photo
Saratoga’s SCWEMS representative updated the town about tensions among the county’s emergency service providers.
Formed in 2009, South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services, or SCWEMS, provides ambulance coverage for eastern Carbon County, including Elk Mountain, Hanna, Medicine Bow, and the Platte Valley. Memorial Hospital of Carbon County covers the remaining service area.
SCWEMS is led by a seven‑member joint powers board made up of representatives from the participating municipalities and the county. During the December 17th Saratoga Town Council meeting, the town’s SCWEMS appointee, Steve Martin, updated the governing body on recent developments at the organization. Martin began by noting that former SCWEMS Director Stayton Mosbey resigned and said the joint powers board is still searching for his replacement, adding that a suitable candidate from North Carolina is expected to step into the role.
As a recent SCWEMS Joint Powers Board appointee, Martin said he witnesses what he described as “underlying tensions” between the North Platte Valley Medical Center and the Carbon County Fire Protection district. Martin said municipal fire departments appear to have an issue with responding to emergency calls along Interstate 80.
Martin said the issues appear to stem from a lack of acknowledgment, but he is continuing to work with the SCWEMS Joint Powers Board to determine the underlying cause. However, early indications suggest the concerns may be rooted in longstanding grudges. No matter the reason, Martin said the emergency services must put their differences aside to ensure they have access to millions of dollars from the recently enacted federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a five‑year, $50 billion national initiative created under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act to expand access to care, modernize facilities and technology, and support workforce development in rural communities. While the exact amount Wyoming will receive from the program hasn’t been set, the state may be awarded up to $1 billion over five years.
The state has already received $205 million from the Rural Health Transformation Program, of which 80 percent has been deposited into a savings account to generate long‑term investment returns. Martin said he doesn’t support the state’s investment plan, arguing that the money is needed now.
To ensure Carbon County receives a portion of the federal funding, Saratoga’s SCWEMS representative asked the governing body for advice to improve cooperation between the participating agencies.
Mayor Chuck Davis asked if the SCWEMS Joint Powers Board itself was experiencing any issues. Martin said no, explaining that the animosity appears to stem from the fact that in Wyoming, ambulance and fire departments are not classified as essential services like police, water, and sewer. Martin added that EMS and fire are typically separate departments that often compete for limited funding.
Martin also said EMS and fire departments are having trouble finding volunteers. Without enough people to respond to calls, the SCWEMS representative said Memorial Hospital of Carbon County may have to step in to provide ambulance coverage for the entire county. Martin added that patients are the top priority for SCWEMS, not egos.
Responding to a question from Mayor Davis, Martin said SCWEMS has 50 registered volunteers in the Platte Valley, but only half are certified to respond to emergency calls. The ambulance service also has no paramedics on staff. Martin said paramedics live in the area, but for unspecified reasons, they are not part of SCWEMS.
Martin said the SCWEMS Joint Powers Board is trying to fill the organization’s open positions. However, personality conflicts appear to be preventing the board’s efforts.
To improve communication, Martin asked the governing body to form a committee made up of participating agencies, with the Saratoga Town Council serving as a neutral party. Mayor Davis agreed to the request and said he will reach out to the participating agencies to determine what they want from the arrangement.
Mayor Davis provided an update on the SCWEMS committee during the January 7th Saratoga Town Council meeting. The mayor said he has begun speaking to representatives from each participating agency and will contact SCWEMS Joint Powers Board chairman Morgan Irene for additional information.
Mayor Davis said he will continue to stay in contact, adding that the organizations must work together to ensure they receive their share of the Rural Health Transformation Program funding.
