In December of 1981 a petition was filed with the office clerk of the Benton County Missouri, requesting the creation of an ambulance district to be known as “The Cole Camp Community Ambulance District”. The said territory of the proposed Ambulance District followed the part of Pettis and Benton Counties that followed the Good Samaritan Nursing Home District, except the part that included the Warsaw Lincoln Ambulance District.  The municipalities that are located in the district are cities of Cole Camp and Ionia. The vote was passed by the people and the ambulance district was formed. The District was formed with income from a property tax. In April of 2008 a sales tax was imposed of 1/2 cent which allowed the district additional income to hire paramedics and offer ALS response to the community.  

The District is comprised of approximately 320 square miles that includes the southeastern portion of Pettis County and  most of the northern portion of Benton County. The district serves a population or about 4180 people, which can grow in the summer months due to summer and lake traffic. The district runs an average of about 600 calls a year and operates on a yearly budget of around $500,000. The station was rebuilt in 2012 with a 3,000 sq/ft facility that houses the district’s 2 ambulances, and the on duty crew.

There are Six Board member that comprise the Board of Directors in which 2 are elected every year to 3 year terms. The Chief Administrator and Assistant Administrator maintains the district and its employees. The district employs 3 full time EMT’s and 3 fulltime paramedics that work a rotating 48 hours on shift with 4 days off and a rotating shift off every seventh shift that gives them 10 days off. The district employs anywhere from 8-10 part time EMTs and Paramedics. The district utilizes available off duty personnel for events, standbys and non emergency interfacility transfers. 

Over the past few years the district has been working to increase the quality and outcome of patient care. In January of 2016 new Life Pack 15 Cardiac Monitors were purchased. This put the current technology at the patient side in cardiac emergencies. In November of 2016 equipment was purchased that allowed Paramedics to transmit EKG’s to local cardiac centers to activate Cardiac Cath teams to prepare for incoming Cardiac Emergencies. The district also purchased a commercial oxygen concentrator this allows the  Ambulance District to maintain their own oxygen supply and supplies oxygen to surrounding first responder agencies. The district replaced the  mapping system in May of 2017 to an updated system that is GPS guided, using mapping information supplied from Benton County 911. The district has Ipads to complete the patient report and a secured monitoring system in that patient compartment and around the vehicle for protection of the patient and the ambulance district. In July of 2018 the district purchased a new reporting software from ESO Solution to enhance the patient reporting and comply with Nemsis standards. In February of 2019 the district took delivery of a new Type III Ford ambulance and purchased new radio equipment to communicate with surrounding agencies on mutual aid calls that meets the federal P25 standards and has the ability to utilize the State of Missouri MOSWIN infrastructure. In 2023 the District purchased additional FCC licensing to maintain and operate on their own P25 compliant Radio system. The district strives to remain current with technology and equipment to provide the patient with the best possible care.

In the future as our community grows we are looking to addon to our facility, to include a training room, more crews quarters to add additional staff for holidays and events, exercise room with equipment, and more space for our current equipment.