South Salt Lake to add ambulance service

SOUTH SALT LAKE — The South Salt Lake City Council voted narrowly on Wednesday to move forward with adding ambulance service to the fire department.

The 4-3 vote creates the ambulance service on paper, said city attorney Dave Carlson, but it won't exist in fact until the city council appropriates thousands of dollars in funding. It could start sometime next year.

If the plan is ultimately approved, the city would take over emergency medical response from the private company Gold Cross. The company isn't protesting the proposal because it makes most of its money elsewhere, said spokesman Chris DeLaMare.

Proponents say the plan will increase service levels, but opponents believe the city is trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.