Marco Island voters will decide whether to purchase two new ambulances. Currently, only Collier County EMS is licensed to transport patients to hospitals off the island, with only one ambulance stationed there. With the nearest hospital over 20 miles away, city leaders say they need more ambulances - and more control.
"We do believe we can provide a higher level of service," said Mike Murphy, chief of Marco Island Fire-Rescue.
Murphy said the city's opportunity to vote on the purchase of the ambuances - and hire twelve additional staff to run them - is unique. Governor Rick Scott signed a bill allowing the vote in March.
"Never in Florida's history were voters actually allowed to decide the EMS issue," Murphy said.
The Collier EMS ambulance was evacuated from the island when Hurricane Irma made landfall at Marco Island is September.
Murphy said that if voters approve the new ambulances, all of the city's fire-rescue vehicles would carry the same life-saving medicine and equipment.
"If an individual has a seizure, that patient could be treated immediately by a fire truck (crew)," Murphy said.
