NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Thanks to action from the Board of Reno County Commissioners at their meeting last week, Reno County EMS will be moving to the building formerly occupied by Nelson Heating and Air on West 5th across from Dillons. The county is purchasing that building for $300,000.
"The building is almost empty," said County Counselor Patrick Hoffman. "It's not an ongoing concern. There's a few things for them to move out that we'd coordinate with them. In terms of being a real estate contract, it's pretty straightforward."
The move will actually help both EMS and the Health Department, according to Reno County Administrator Randy Partington.
"The purchase of this building will move EMS out of the current Health Department building, giving, in the long term, the Health Department more space without having to buy a building, just to renovate internally," Partington said. "The EMS department, which is part of the hospital, their space there is limited. Sleeping quarters is a problem they have."
There's also going to be space on the back side for some storage for Reno County, as well. The move will also put EMS closer to where call volume is beginning to grow, according to the hospital.
"It might be wise to have another building, another EMS station in northwest Hutchinson because of call volume and response time," Partington said. "By moving them, even though it's only a couple blocks, moving them to this location, according to the EMS director, will delay that need for another station in northwest Hutchinson for a few years."
The purchase was approved unanimously.
Partington also said in an email provided to Hutch Post, "The purchase was taken from ARPA funds. The plan is to also use ARPA funds for the renovation of this new property to better house the EMS agency."
These particular funds must be allocated by the end of 2024.
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