A “phantom race” to appear on ballot in Hughes County

PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- The general election is just under two weeks away and voters in Hughes County will see a phanton race on their ballots.  Pierre City Administrator Kristie Honeywell says voters on November 8th will see a race that doesn’t count for anything on their ballot.

Pierre, Fort Pierre, Hughes and Stanley County had proposed letting voters determine if the entities should establish an ambulance district due to increasing costs for service with American Medical Response.  Stanley County bailed on the proposal and the ambulance district effectively stopping the process but Honeywell says ambulance service is paid for next year.

All four governing boards are considering a five-year contract with A-M-R for services.

A-M-R’s costs for ambulance service to Hughes and Stanley Counties is going from approximately 135-thousand dollars in 2022 to to around 415-thousand dollars for 2023.