Granbury council authorizes lease for new joint fire/EMS station, okays funding up to $300,000

A city staff member told the City of Granbury council that a proposed lease with Granbury Hood County Emergency Medical Service Inc., also known as Texas EMS, would establish a joint fire station and ambulance facility (station number four) in the Commerce Center on Ruth Smith Drive. The speaker said the land for the project was donated by Mr. Durant and that construction funding would come from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) COVID-era funds.

The staff member said the city's maximum contribution under the proposal would be $300,000. "We would need to invest about $300,000 as a max," the staff member said, adding that the amount is intended to cover installation of the fire-suppression system, water taps, street repairs related to water-main work, permitting and inspection fees, impact fees, and any required street lights. The presenter noted engineering review and platting fees were discussed and would be covered but were not explicitly included in the draft lease language.

The city also budgeted about $25,000 of the contribution for furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) for the fire department, and the staff member described space allocation: the city would use three of the station's four apparatus bays while Texas EMS would have an office inside the facility and be responsible for most facility maintenance. "We're going to be consuming three of the four bays," the staff member said. The staff member added that the city would be responsible for overhead door repairs and cleaning its office areas, while other maintenance would be the EMS provider's obligation, and that the city would pay roughly 60% of electric and utility bills.

The presenter said both the city attorney and the EMS attorney had reviewed and agreed to the draft lease. He also said the completed station would be included in the city's ISO rating, which would strengthen the community's fire-protection metrics. The staff member described the station as serving the northwest side of town, including Abel Landing and new homes along Loop 567 and nearby commercial development.

On a motion from a councilmember (mover) and a second from another councilmember (seconder) — neither named in the transcript — the council voted to authorize the city manager to negotiate and finalize the lease. A subsequent amendment to the motion explicitly limited city funding to "not to exceed $300,000." The council approved the amended motion by voice vote, recorded in the meeting as six in favor and none opposed.

Next steps conveyed in the meeting: the city manager is authorized to finalize lease terms with Granbury Hood County Emergency Medical Service Inc./Texas EMS and proceed with contracting and permitting. The draft agreement, as discussed at the meeting, allocates responsibility for doors, utilities and routine cleaning, sets the city's budgeted maximum contribution and leaves some engineering/platting particulars to be resolved during final negotiations.