Local ambulance group seeks grant-funded station; county partnership, site soil testing and phased approach discussed

Representatives of the local ambulance association briefed the San Juan County Board of Commissioners on plans to pursue grant funding and a site for a new ambulance station, and asked the county to partner on administrative planning grants because the association is a 501(c)(3) and not itself eligible for certain state funds.

Tyler, identified as an ambulance association representative, said the group has been working with an architecture firm in Durango to prepare conceptual layouts and initial cost estimates and is seeking a $20,000 administrative planning grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). He asked the county to participate as a grant partner so the nonprofit can apply: “we are a 5-0 1 c 3 … we are not eligible for DOLA funds by ourselves. We have to do it in partnership with the county,” he said.

Possible sites discussed included the existing county shop parcel (with the county shop potentially relocated), a county-owned parcel near the power station that is in flood plain, a site across from Anvil along Highway 550, the quarry area, and a parcel behind the county shop that is owned by the school district. Staff and commissioners noted utilities, flood-plain constraints and access off Highway 550 as complicating factors. Tyler said the firm recommended soil testing and cautioned about possible historic contamination at the county-shop site given past uses; he said that if contamination is found the project could pursue brownfields funding to address it.

The association and commissioners discussed building options and phasing: drive-through bays for apparatus, upstairs bunks for crew, and a potential two-story design if site footprint is limited. Tyler said the association would prioritize garage/shop space for vehicle storage and could rent temporary living quarters during construction. He also outlined a mixed funding approach that could combine DOLA planning grants, private foundation support and, if needed, congressional-directed funding.

Commissioners said they would like conceptual footprints to compare site feasibility and suggested county staff could arrange soil sampling, brownfields assessment discussions and continued coordination with DOLA staff. One commissioner noted relocating the county shop would create a parallel need to identify a new site for road and bridge functions, and urged consideration of that impact in planning.

The ambulance association and commissioners agreed to continue discussions. Tyler said he will work with Willie (county staff) and others to refine conceptual plans, pursue the DOLA planning grant, and share updates as the project advances.