CHOCOWINITY — The cancellation of Chocowinity EMS’ contract by Beaufort County commissioners has spurred south side residents to act.

An ongoing dispute between the county and the paramedic-level EMS squad as to the legality of the squad’s intrafacility transports led to the contract’s termination — should commissioners and Chocowinity EMS not find resolution before the June 30 deadline, EMS service will likely be farmed out to a for-profit EMS company.

The uncertainty has prompted residents to sign their names to petitions circulating through the Chocowinity Township service district.

“Politically, the residents cover the spectrum, from liberal to conservative, but if there is one issue that will unite the overwhelming majority, it is any decision made by the commissioners that even potentially jeopardizes our continued access to a rapid and capable emergency medical response,” Cypress Landing resident Bernie Dougherty wrote in an email.

But it’s not just Cypress Landing residents who are putting pen to paper: petitions are being dropped off at the station five and 10 pages at a time, Chocowinity EMS Capt. Shane Grier said in an interview last week.

“There are a number of petitions outside of Cypress Landing, from Blounts Creek and from another homeowners association down Old Blounts Creeks Road,” said John Rebholz, president of the Cypress Landing Homeowners Association (CLHA).

According to Rebholz, CLHA’s petition has accrued hundreds of signatures — 400 alone at three Town Hall meetings held Feb. 2, and several hundred since. The CLHA petition states that its signers are deeply concerned about the county’s notice to terminate Chocowinity EMS’ contract and ask that each county commissioner provide written guarantee of the following if the contract is terminated: that EMS service continues at paramedic level; paramedics have the same level of education, experience, training and demonstrable expertise; the managing/operating entity has the same level of relevant expertise and experience in providing services; any new service provided would have the same medical programs that increase a patient’s chance of survival; the service is physically located in Chocowinity; the response time will be the same or less; and the EMS service will be at the current cost or less.

What the CLHA petition does not say is that only Chocowinity EMS can provide EMS service to the district.

“The county has some supervisory authority over the expenditure of county funds and it’s their right to franchise EMS units,” Rebholz said. “But we think Chocowinity EMS is the likely candidate. We think the first thing ought to be to work out something between them, if it’s acceptable, but if it can’t be worked out, our expectations are that we still have uninterrupted paramedic service.”

Rebholz said he and others have been meeting with county officials, as well as Chocowinity EMS representatives, in an effort to bridge the gap between the county and the EMS squad.

“What we’re really trying to do is get some reasonable people to come together to get a solution here,” Rebholz said.

Rebholz said the CLHA petition is open to signatures until Feb. 16, and will presented to county commissioners at a later date.