STURGIS, S.D. – The Rural Sturgis Ambulance group updated the Sturgis City Council last night on their current fundraising effort – as well as the current petition drive.
Spokesman Ross Lamphere says they are now within $580 of their $30,000 goal. That’s the amount set forth by the council to come up with by November 18.
The group is attempting to raise money to temporarily keep the city-owned ambulance service running to the rural areas outside Sturgis city limits.
The council wants the group to have $30,000 – half of what they estimate it costs to run the ambulance to the rural areas yearly – by November 18th.
The council is seeking the funding from the rural areas because residents who live inside city limits help pay for the ambulance in their property taxes.
Lamphere says he is very optimistic they will make the goal.
Lamphere also update council members on the current petition drive. The group is hoping to gather enough signatures to set up a vote to establish a rural ambulance district.
He says they currently have around 25 people going around the rural areas with petitions. They will need around 260 signatures to set a vote for March.
Lamphere says setting an ambulance district is the most logical long term solution to rural funding of an ambulance.
