Denali Borough officials say Cantwell's volunteer EMS model may need to change

Denali Borough officials say the borough's Cantwell EMS model, in place for roughly two decades, may need to change, though no funding decision has been made.

Mayor Nolte told the Assembly on Sept. 9 that he attended a Cantwell Fire and EMS meeting with chiefs from McKinley and Tri-Valley. The department is struggling to recruit and retain volunteers, as many rural departments nationally are, he said, while EMS calls keep coming along a long stretch of the Parks Highway.

Assembly member Stanfield, who also attended, called it "a pretty tough meeting, but hopefully going forward we can collaborate and try and find a solution."

Presiding Officer Jared Goecker called the Tri-Valley summer medic program, discussed as early as 2021 and the subject of a $230,455.78 one-year grant request in 2022, "a largely successful model" and "a great place to start." He added it's "better they're 20, 30 miles away than 120."

Goecker said the borough's 5% alcohol and marijuana tax and the bed tax increase could support EMS year-round, calling it "high on that list," though the 9% cap on nonprofit funding needs more thought.