Potential EMS facility creates discussion

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors took no action on a request from the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency to use the unused lot at the south side of the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center for a new location for the EMS facility.
The request was made by emergency management coordinator Brian Hamman and Emergency Management Commission, which approved Hamman’s request to meet with the supervisors and the Red Oak City Council to build a finished 72-by-42-foot building on the currently vacant lot on Washington at a cost of approximately $300,000. Hamman’s meeting with the supervisors was for approval to build on county land, rather than seek out a more expensive lot to purchase. The options to finance the building were through a bank loan or to levy the full amount of the building up-front.
Hamman advised the supervisors he had enough money in his budget for next year to pay the bank loan for the full year, and would not require a budget increase. Hamman listed several reasons for the need for the building.
“We need more storage space. We have equipment spread out all over the county, in secure and unsecure locations. I’m pretty much maxed out at Highland Annex for storage, as well as some overflow at my house,” Hamman commented.
City Administrator Brad Wright was in attendance at the meeting, and said he had discussed a potential option for Hamman to build the new building on the north side of the fire station.
“The city council has not signed off on any project, but it’s a possibility. I’m not in favor of that location at the law enforcement center. Our fire department staff have looked at the possibility of additional storage space. If approached right, I think there could be some cost savings for both the city and the county. We feel that’s the right location to pursue, though there are a lot of details left to discuss,” Wright said.
Supervisor Mike Olson said he was uncertain the city council would allow the building to be constructed so close to the downtown. Wright said under current zoning regulations, a building permit would be allowed.
“While it would be approved, the city is working on form-based guidelines for regulations regarding architectural design. There are currently two districts, the buildings immediately facing the square, and the district adjacent to the square. As it has been proposed, it stops at 2nd street. However, there has been conversation of expanding the guidelines all the way to Broadway. So today, the building would be approved, but if the form-based guidelines are expanded, it would not be,” Wright explained.
Hamman said that he was not opposed to building at the fire station. Supervisor Bryant Amos, who also sits on the Emergency Management Commission, said it was an option that would be looked at, when the commission meets next. However, the supervisors only had one decision to focus on.
“We’re simply deciding if building is an option at the law enforcement center. It doesn’t mean it will happen. Also, we have a third entity that is interested in partnering in this. There are a lot of options, but to move forward with the commission, they need to know if the supervisors are agreeing to the potential to build next to the sheriff’s office,” Amos said.
Supervisor Donna Robinson said she was supportive of building a storage facility for the EMA equipment, however, she had another alternative for office space.
“I think we have office space available on the top floor for usage. I’d prefer to not see additional office space built. It’s nothing personal. I appreciate all you do. I’m speaking from a taxpayer standpoint, and I would like to see this project scaled back,” Robinson said.
Elliott Mayor Mike Carson also sits on the commission, and commented that he and other members of the commission were open to looking at ways to cut down on costs to the project.
The supervisors elected to not make a motion on the request from Hamman to use the vacant lot, due to the number of variables on other site locations, however, the board was in unanimous agreement that they were  open to future discussions for the land to be used.