CRYSTAL FALLS — Iron County’s ambulance provider has requested an additional 1 mill levy be placed on the ballot this year to help cover rising costs for the service.

Aspirus MedEvac right now faces an estimated loss of $1,044,568 in fiscal year 2023 without additional funding, said Robert Kirkley, Aspirus Health’s regional director of emergency medical service for the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin.

The Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus contracts with Iron County to provide two advanced life support — or ALS — ambulances with crews covering the east and west sides of the county 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Kirkley told the Iron County Board on Tuesday.

Aspirus MedEvac now is reimbursed $80,590 a year under its four-year contract, partially funded with a 0.15-mills levy voters first approved in 2016 and renewed in 2020 through 2024, along with revenue from patient transports.

But increases in staffing costs, capital expenses, critical staffing pay practices and other expenses has ballooned the level of losses, Kirkley said.

The additional 1 mill levy would generate more than $550,000 in 2024, he said.

Aspirus has provide emergency medical services to Iron County since December 2014. Aspirus MedEvac also goes into neighboring Gogebic County under contract with Watersmeet and has asked for additional money there as well, Kirkley said.

Civil counsel Steven Tinti pointed out that if voters approve the additional levy, the county would be required to go back out for bids on the ambulance service, with a duty to consider all proposals — and no obligation to remain with Aspirus.

While such a vote could be on the August ballot, that would require the board approve the measure at the May meeting, county Commissioner Mike Stafford noted. Tinti added that the board must decide as well what happens to the existing .15 mill levy if the new one passes.

The board tabled the request to get further financial information for the May meeting, with voters likely not seeing the question until the November ballot.

In other business, the board:

— Learned that Abbey Anderson submitted her resignation Friday as chief public defender with the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission in Iron County. Anderson plans to remain on the MIDC board while seeking her replacement. The county board will be kept advised on applicants for the position.

— Heard that the Cooks Run cabin needs roof maintenance while the county continues to decide what should be done with the site. Cooks Run was developed as a public works project in the early to mid-1930s and added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1983. The state deeded the 122-acre property off Cooks Run Road about 14 miles west of Iron River in Stambaugh Township to Iron County in 1961, but the deed contains a reverter clause that dictates the county maintain it for “public use” or ownership will revert back to the state. The board was told Iron County Historical Museum has offered to have the cabin on its grounds.