Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association is ready to serve as the primary Basic Life Support provider for Mahoning Township.

Lehighton Ambulance Association will be the primary Advanced Life Support for the township.

Paul Waddell Jr., director of operations, said the coverage area change goes into effect on Wednesday.

“Mahoning will honor any Lehighton memberships to the portion of Mahoning Township that we are now covering,” Waddell said.

On a 4-0 vote, supervisors last week appointed Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association as the primary Basic Life Support provider for all of the township. Supervisor Brian Reeser was absent.

Waddell spoke at that meeting, and was joined by Darin Dotter, a member of the board of directors, and Andy Rivera, a driver.

The association went through some changes and the call volume decreased.

As of April 1, Waddell said the Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association no longer provided EMS coverage to the Weatherly, Packer and surrounding areas.

Waddell attributed that in January to “financial barriers and staffing dilemmas (that) have created circumstances that make it unfeasible to remain in two areas.”

He said at that time Mahoning would provide service to all of those areas until April 30.

Waddell said at that time the plan was to remain in service covering Mahoning Township and surrounding areas beyond April 30.

He said after Wednesday’s supervisors meeting that Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association never stopped providing service to Mahoning Township.

In December, Robert Miller, treasurer of the Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association, appeared at a Mahoning Township board of supervisors meeting and said the organization could use financial support, and was in search of suggestions.

Miller cited the high costs of fuel, electric, and insurance among the driving factors, and said that all the ambulance corps are affected.

Miller said he attended the meeting to ask for the board’s ideas.