The Venice Fire Department is pushing to take over EMS service from the county within city limits.
At a workshop late last week, Fire Chief Shawn Carvey showed data that showed fire crews got to a medical service call – on average- four minutes before county EMS crews get on scene.
Currently, Venice pays the county for EMS service. If that burden was switched to the city’s fire department, officials say that money could go to hire 25 additional first responders and purchase three ambulances.
The city council will take it up at a meeting set for the 22nd.