CHENANGO COUNTY – Cooperstown Medical Transport (CMT), a private commercial ambulance service based in Otsego and Delaware counties, has been temporarily approved by the state to take emergency calls in Chenango.

CMT was issued what’s called an emergency “Certificate of Need” – a permit all emergency services providers must have in order to legally operate in a certain jurisdiction – Friday by the state Department of Health. The company will be placing an ambulance in the Norwich area immediately, a spokeswoman said Monday.

“We’re going to post (be in service) as much as we can this week,” said CMT co-owner and Chief Financial Officer Margaret McGown, explaining that the crew may not be in-service 24 hours a day for the next five and half days. “By Monday we’ll have a scheduled crew in Chenango County. We expect to have them be there twenty-four seven.”

The 24-hour crew will consist of one advanced life support paramedic and one basic life support paramedic, McGown said.

Until a permanent location is bought or rented in the next few weeks, CMT’s ambulance will most likely be stationed at spots like Chenango Memorial Hospital or the City of Norwich Fire Department.

“We’re looking for a place to call home,” McGown said, although she would not elaborate on potential sites.