Earlier this year, the Kansas City Council passed a resolution that supported turning the Metropolitan Ambulance Services Trust into a separate city department.

But that hasn't stopped persistent rumors that the ambulance system will be swallowed up by the Fire Department.

Those rumors weren't helped by the selection of a new consultant _ with ties to the International Association of Fire Chiefs _ to help incorporate emergency medical service operations into city government.

So today, Councilman John Sharp introduced an ordinance that would formally establish a separate ambulance department in the city. The ordinance is co-sponsored by council members Cindy Circo and Melba Curls and goes to the Public Safety and Neighborhoods Committee next week for discussion.

"I feel it's real important that we calm the waters," Sharp said, noting that MAST's interim CEO, Gil Glass, has already left to take a new job in California. Sharp said he wants to ease anxieties and prevent departures of other valued MAST employees.

He said adopting an ordinance that creates a separate department shows the council intends to do what it said it would do, and should quell the fears about a fire-department takeover.

"Creating the department takes that issue off the table," Sharp said.