Commission approves county submission for DOLA technical‑assistance grant for new EMS facility planning

San Juan County commissioners voted to authorize county staff to submit a Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) technical‑assistance grant application to fund planning and programming for a proposed new emergency services building. The action will allow the county to engage Reynolds Ash and Associates and other consultants for site survey, geotechnical and environmental studies.

Tyler and Willie (county staff) said the consultant team can start as soon as a grant award is confirmed and estimated an initial two‑month timeline for planning and programming. Staff emphasized that the county — not the ambulance service — must submit the DOLA application because county ownership and stewardship of the building is required for the grant.

Willie relayed a key caveat from consultants: because the existing structure on the county property has stood for many decades, the required Phase 1 environmental site assessment could reveal the need for a Phase 2 investigation and potentially a brownfields remediation. Consultants warned that such findings would extend the schedule and add costs beyond the initial planning phase.

Commissioners discussed ownership and lease arrangements and said a county‑owned building with a long‑term lease to the ambulance service (similar to the county’s arrangement with the fire department) was acceptable. Staff also said the grant match could come from the emergency services fund; the applicant will confirm whether ambulance escrow funds are available if needed.

A motion to submit the DOLA technical assistance grant with the clarified edit to the scope passed by voice vote. Commissioners instructed staff to remove wording that implied demolition prior to environmental review and to return updates to the board as consultant reports arrive.