New data shows eastern Callaway County experiences longer EMS response times than rest of county
Nia Hinson
CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
People who live in the eastern and southeastern portions of Callaway County typically have to wait longer to receive an ambulance, according to new data.
According to a social media post from Callaway County Emergency Medical Services, a consulting company created map showing projected response times. The map depicts response times based off of road network routing and assumed travel speeds. Actual response times can vary, depending on factors such as dispatch processing and weather.
The map shows areas in green typically have an ambulance reach them the quickest, which is within rough 5-10 minutes– while areas in the yellow and orange will wait slightly longer. Areas in the red portion of the map could see the longest wait time, with waits up to 35 minutes. That includes areas such as Portland, Steedman, Reform and Readsville.
Callaway County Ambulance District EMS Chief Charles Anderson said they aren’t currently having discussions about expanding in the areas that face slower times, but he believes a use tax on the April ballot could help. Voters will vote on use tax on April 7.
Callaway County ballot 3-18-2026Download
Anderson said the ambulance district’s primary funding mechanism is a half-cent sales tax. However, he said as they start to see more online shopping, the district doesn’t receive any sales tax from the sales. If approved, the use tax would apply the half cent sales tax to online purchases, which could potentially generate $500,000-$700,000 per year for Callaway County EMS.
Curtis Hall, who serves on the Callaway County EMS Board of Directors. also said he believes the use tax could help. Hall said he believes the current placement of ambulances in Callaway County has served the community well, but said population growth in Holts Summit is putting a strain on that. That can sometimes also mean mutual aid from Fulton or Cole County is requested.
“As with any public safety services there are significant cost considerations to consider such as facilities, salaries, benefits and ambulances. Personally, I feel the use tax would be beneficial so that serious conversations can be discussed about repair/ replacement of existing ambulances and support the long term goal of additional resources to the Holts Summit area,” Hall wrote via email.
According to Anderson, the company conducted the data unsolicited. Anderson said although EMS did not specifically request the data, he stills finds it helpful and said that it brings up talking points about possibly contracting with a company in the future to provide call volume data.
Anderson said that the eastern and southeastern areas usually face longer wait times due to the positioning of resources. The locations sit further from stations and include road networks with fewer direct routes, the post says.
Anderson said while they’re aware of the longer response times, there are other factors they have to consider.
“It also probably has the fewest number of calls and so you know the question then becomes for us, does it make sense to spend the money to build a station and staff an ambulance crew down in that area for a handful of calls?” Anderson said.
While certain people could wait longer to receive an ambulance, it doesn’t mean that they don’t wait the full wait time to receive care. Anderson said fire districts that cover those areas are able to start basic levels of care before an ambulance can arrive.
“They respond to medical emergencies and they have trained emergency medical responders and trained EMTs,” Anderson said. “Working with the fire districts you know, we try to cut that time down because they are gonna get there quicker than we are.”