County to Hold Meetings Regarding State of Pelican Rapids Emergency Services

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Pelican Rapids, MN – Otter Tail County is inviting residents to attend two upcoming meetings to establish a Subordinate Service District to support emergency medical services in the Pelican Rapids Primary Service Area.

In March 2026, Ringdahl Ambulance Pelican Rapids told cities and townships in its service area about serious financial shortfalls that could put its services at risk. County staff held an informational session in April to walk through the options state law allows, including a joint powers agreement, a special taxing district or a subordinate service district.

In June, Ringdahl Ambulance told the Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services it will not renew its Primary Service Area (PSA) license for Pelican Rapids when the license expires in 2027. By the end of June, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners directed staff to pursue a Subordinate Service District (SSD) to keep emergency medical services running in the Pelican Rapids area.

An SSD is a defined, connected area within a county, allowed under Minnesota statute 375B. If the county creates one, it could apply for a PSA license, hire an EMS provider through a competitive bidding process and set property taxes or parcel fees to pay for the service.

The proposed Pelican Rapids PSA covers the cities of Pelican Rapids, Elizabeth, Vergas, Erhard, and Rothsay along with the townships of Candor, Dora, Dunn, Erhards Grove, Friberg, Lida, Maine, Maplewood, Norwegian Grove, Oscar, Pelican, Scambler, Star Lake and Trondhjem.

Residents can learn more and ask questions at a public information session on October 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Pelican Rapids High School and will have time to express their opinions at a public hearing on the proposed SSD on October 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Pelican Rapids High School.

Visit the county webpage at ottertailcounty.gov/project/pr-ems-ssd/ for links to the Microsoft Teams login to attend the meetings online and to subscribe to notifications of project updates.

Story courtesy of Otter Tail County.