–The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors approved a liquor license for ABATE of Iowa during their meeting Tuesday after postponing a vote last week. Concerns have been raised about the added costs the county’s EMS Department incurs to have enough staff on hand to cover any potential calls to Freedom Park and the rest of the area at the same time. During the public comment portion of the meeting, the board heard from Melissa Morey, an Assistant State Coordinator for ABATE of Iowa. Morey says they have been forced to cut their budget in recent years.
Last week, the board directed County Attorney Todd Holmes to investigate whether they could impose some sort of agreement between ABATE and EMS as a condition of approving the liquor license. Holmes told the board that was not possible, and he hopes the groups can come together and reach an agreement.
Supervisor Kyle Stecker asked for the issue to be pushed back last week, and he addressed comments made by ABATE officials prior to the vote.
It was suggested that any costs EMS may incur by responding to a call at Freedom Park could be offset by billing the patient, a notion that Stecker says is not realistic.
EMS Director Phil Albers told the board last week that it costs his department around $5,000 to have additional staff on hand during the rally, as it occurs over a holiday, and they had asked ABATE to cover roughly 40% of that expense. The 2026 ABATE Freedom Rally runs July 2nd-4th at Freedom Park near Algona.
