He also said if the other cities would not contribute, Cottage Grove would consider handing the territory over to someone else who might not be able to provide as prompt service. The next step is approval by the state’s Office of Emergency Medical Services to modify Cottage Grove EMS’s primary service area. Once that happens, Fairview EMS will provide service for the cities of Newport and St. Paul Park, potentially beginning as soon as Sept. 1. Bailey said residents of Cottage Grove have been subsidizing the costs for neighboring communities, who have “had to pay nothing” for the service. The Newport city website said this week that it anticipates the EMS change will be approved by the state.