Ed Hart of East Moline said he cannot understand how his city's fire department and city council can propose that the city should have its own ambulance service when what there is now works so well.

"I had a heart attack Dec. 20," he said. "The ambulance from Genesis-Illini got there within five minutes. I've lived here all my life and they've been awesome."

Speaking Wednesday before a crowd of about 50 people at the South Moline Township Senior Center in East Moline, Hart said he is not sure why the city is trying to establish its own ambulance service.

But with more than 1,000 signatures and counting, it appears a grassroots effort in East Moline known as "Citizens for a Voice" to force a vote on a proposed city ambulance service in November has succeeded, said the group's chairman Steve Dussliere.

"We'll be taking them to the City Clerk's office tomorrow," Dussliere said.

Only about 270 signatures were needed, he said. But by putting feet to the pavement and knuckles to doors, the group has, over about a five-week period, amassed more signatures than is needed, which is what was desired.

"We wanted to send a statement to the city council that everybody wants to vote for it," Dussliere said.

Since the vote will take place during a general election, there will be no extra costs to taxpayers, he added.

Lawrence Dussliere, who moderated the meeting, said that 35 years ago the Illini Tax District was set up to pay for ambulance service.

"You've got to have the service and it's expensive," Lawrence Dussliere said. "If you've already got a tax for it, why duplicate the service? And we've had excellent service from Illini."

He added that the fire department had conducted a study, "but if we're going to have a study done, it needs to be an independent study."

Joel Krogman said he was wondering when the ambulance service became an issue.

"I've never heard a public outcry. I've never seen an article in the paper. I've never heard an alderman say we had a need for this," Krogman said. "What prompted the study?"

East Moline Fire Chief Rob DeFrance has said the ambulance service would be the best option to fully staff the fire department and said he's trying to do a better job of explaining that to the public.