County approves EMS West regional consolidation and increases budget for new Owen Poole station

Buncombe County staff presented a request to consolidate EMS budgets for the West region and to increase funding for the newly bid Owen Poole EMS station in Swannanoa (addressed in presentation as 750 Old U.S. 70 Hwy). Robert Brown said the facility design is approximately 12,214 square feet, with three double-loaded apparatus bays, 12 personnel stations/sleeping quarters, an exhaust-protection system, six high-speed bay doors and medical support spaces.

Budget change and rationale: The project's current budget was $6.6 million; staff requested an increase of $3,398,000 for a total project budget of $9,998,000 to cover full construction, equipment, testing and design costs. Brown and staff explained the increase reflects updated, bid-based construction costs, general escalation since the earlier 2021 estimates, additional code-required structural fortification because the facility is an "essential facility" under building code, and higher materials and supply costs after recent storms and market shifts.

Programmatic impact and alternatives: Staff described consolidating a previously planned local base and a regional base budget to procure land and complete design for the West Regional facility and said the West Asheville local base study had partial expenditures that would be closed out and leveraged. Brown said the county would pursue grant funding where possible but planned to debt-finance the project within the county's capital-improvement program.

Board action: The board approved the requested budget amendment in a recorded vote at the meeting. Staff said debt would not be issued until bids are in hand and grant searches completed.

Ending: With the amendment approved, staff will proceed with land acquisition, finalize the design and move toward construction procurement in line with the updated budget.