–Kossuth County will seek an agreement with ABATE of Iowa to cover some of the costs associated with their annual Freedom Rally near Algona. Concerns were raised last year by county officials when they were informed that ABATE would not be making their usual donation towards the costs of providing EMS services at the rally. EMS Director Phil Albers spoke with the Board of Supervisors during their meeting Tuesday, telling them he will meet with ABATE officials this week.
In previous years, EMS personnel were on hand at Freedom Park for the duration of the rally. Albers says they have scaled that coverage back in recent years to save on costs.
Albers says the call volume to the rally varies from year to year, but last year they only were called to Freedom Park once.
Albers estimates it costs at least $3,500 to cover the rally and the rest of the county over the 4th of July weekend. With the board’s approval, Albers will propose to ABATE a $25/hour fee to keep an ambulance crew in town and ready to respond to the festival. The rate would go to $50/hour for time spent responding to emergency calls at Freedom Park. This year’s ABATE Freedom Rally is scheduled for July 2nd-4th.
