By Sam Parsons

The Pella City Council met last night and formally approved a 28E agreement for ambulance and emergency medical services with surrounding townships. The agreement includes Lake Prairie and Summit Townships in Marion County, Black Oak and Richland Townships in Mahaska County, and the City of Leighton. As part of the agreement, those entities will pay the city of Pella $36,000 for services administered in the previous fiscal year and $46,000 for the current fiscal year, through June of 2024. According to city staff, the agreement is meant to be temporary until the voters of Marion County can consider an essential services tax to provide EMS funding in Marion County in a county-wide vote, which is tentatively planned for March 5, 2024.