UPDATE: Board for Lewis County Search & Rescue votes to stay independent

LOWVILLE- A vote Monday night by board members for Lewis County Search & Rescue will keep the organization independent.

This follow up is according to the Latest from WWNY-TV and stems from an ongoing tug of war over what to do in solving a simmering EMS response problem.

In summary, volunteer and staffing shortages have created a very sticky situation for when it comes to EMS here in the North Country and beyond.

According to reports, Chief of Operations at Search & Rescue, Josh Levesque, will not step down, while the board will remain out of county control.

Levesque told reporters that Search & Rescue was given seven-days to comply with county orders, however; the County Manager, Timothy Hunt, says the concern focusses around ensuring local residents remain assured that they will always receive EMS services.

Meanwhile, we have learned that Search & Rescue’s Medical Director, Dr. Tim Mathis, has written a letter to the organization highlighting various problems he would like addressed.

If not, Dr. Mathis has threatened to step away and Chief Levesque told reporters that the organization has a plan if that were to occur.

It is now expected that the county will try organizing its own EMS service, which was a recommendation that blossomed from a recent independent study that focused on the best pathways forward for handling the EMS issue.

Lewis County Search & Rescue image.