By James Allen, Fergus Falls Journal
In a brief visit in conjunction with a rural EMS panel discussion with local and regional leaders and law enforcement, U.S. House Rep. Michelle Fischbach visited Ottertail City on June 17.
Prior to the meeting, Fischbach spoke with Daily Journal Media and expressed concern about the state of EMS services in rural Minnesota.
“We are having a law enforcement and EMS roundtable with some of the locals to see what’s going on with EMS and the ambulance issues. We’re facing some issues with reimbursement on ambulances. It’s always good to kind of check in and see what’s going on and if there’s some specifics we can help with,” said Fischbach.
Outside of the EMS issues, Fischbach said she had a number of priorities for rural Minnesota leading up to the election.
“We have one of our bills that’s investing in rural America and that would help loosen up some capital. We’re talking to people around the district, they’re trying to build hospitals, they’re trying to build daycare centers, they’re trying to build housing and things like that. It would work with the Farm Credit system and help loosen up some dollars so that they could lona on those things,” said Fischbach.
Another big issue Fischbach is working on is expanding agriculture export markets.
“The Biden administration has not paid attention to that like we need to. When they were doing free trade agreements they were letting a lot go by the wayside. They were doing these framework things, but don’t hold the same power as a free trade agreement. We need to get into Ecuador, we need to get into those new markets,” said Fischbach
Attending the EMS roundtable with Fischbach were Sen. Jordan Rasmusson; Mayors Ron Grobeck of Ottertail, Ben Schier of Fergus Falls, Tim Meehl of Perham; representatives from Perham Area EMS and Ringdahl Ambulance; law enforcement for Otter Tail County, including Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons, Chief of Public Safety in Fergus Falls Kile Bergren, Chief James Gritz of Perham; Kent Mattson with Lake Region Healthcare and Caleb Monson with Operation for Freedom.
