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Commissioners remove transfer-station work from bond, discuss EMS facility in Ellis and volunteer-finished fire storage building
Summary
Staff recommended funding a relatively small transfer-station upgrade from the solid-waste enterprise fund (estimated ~$250,000) rather than the bond; commissioners also reviewed an EMS facility plan for Ellis (Hutton estimate ~$3.5M, reduced-scope option ~$2.6M) and a fire-storage building that could be reduced from ~$711K to ~$250K with volunteer finish work.
County staff recommended removing the transfer-station expansion from the bond package and instead funding it from the solid-waste enterprise fund to avoid adding cost to the county’s proposed bond.
Justin, who oversees solid-waste operations, explained the project would add approximately 1,600 square feet of enclosed metal building, a new apron, stem wall and repairs to the loading system to improve efficiency when loading semis. While Hutton’s outside estimate was roughly $1.1 million, a local contractor assessment that included concrete, electrical and metal repairs reduced the likely price to around $250,000. Myers recommended the commission use the solid-waste enterprise fund’s unencumbered cash rollover to pay the cost, which would leave the fund temporarily unbalanced but covered by enterprise fund revenue and planned budgets.
Staff also reviewed an EMS facility option in Ellis (described in prior Hutton work) with a Hutton price of about $3.5 million that includes two added drive-through bays and a mezzanine as alternates; removing the two bays and mezzanine reduces the representative price to approximately $2.6 million. Staff said the city of Ellis must be consulted about lot size and alley/drive access; the county could also consider buying/renovating an existing building as a lower-cost alternative.
Finally, staff proposed a fire-storage building at Public Works to house training props and equipment. Hutton’s estimate (~$711,250) could be cut to roughly $250,000 if volunteers complete interior finishes and the county stages remaining work over time. Commissioners discussed volunteer involvement and the practicalities of leaving part of the building unfinished to save bond dollars.
Funding decisions: staff proposed the transfer-station work be paid from solid-waste cash reserves and presented options to reduce scope on EMS and fire-storage projects to lower bond pressure. Commissioners expressed support for staging work and seeking local bids to achieve savings.
Next steps: staff will continue site reviews for the EMS facility, coordinate with the city of Ellis on lot and access approvals, prepare bid packages for projects removed from the bond, and return updated cost and funding recommendations.
