County buys metal ambulance building
Staff writer
The first definitive step in building an ambulance station at Hillsboro was taken May 19 when county commissioners voted to purchase a metal building for the station.
Commissioners met with Emergency Medical Services director Travis Parmley and Cody Nelson, of NF Construction, who told them the cost of a metal building had gone up more than $16,000 since the county initially agreed to build a station in Hillsboro. Another large price increase was expected within days.
Parmley and commissioners several months ago talked about putting an ambulance station at Hillsboro, but the city wanted to develop an emergency services center where the police department, fire department, and EMS station were all at one location.
Commissioners earlier decided to go ahead with building at Hillsboro if the city deeded over the land for the building. They were reluctant to build an ambulance station on Hillsboro-owned land.
The transfer of property isn’t finalized.
Hillsboro city administrator Matt Stiles said the property has not been deeded over because the city attorney wants to include a development agreement for the city-donated land.
“We’re in the process of having all that drafted,” Stiles said. “We wanted to get all that done before they went ahead and purchased the building.”
The city will supply utility work, the building site, curb work and the building approach.
Parmley said he expects it will take as long as 90 days for the building parts to arrive.
“I think we’re going to try to break ground in early July,” Parmley said.
Commissioners voted 4-1, with commissioner Kent Becker opposed.
Commission chairman Randy Dallke expressed concern about costs, which have gone up throughout the process of planning for an ambulance station at Hillsboro.
“I’m disappointed that we had this project under control for under $200,000, and now we’re right at $500,000,” Dallke said.