Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Headquarters topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Facilities committee gives staff go-ahead to issue RFQ for EMS headquarters at CoolerTrak
Summary
Committee members signaled support for advancing an EMS headquarters at the CoolerTrak public-safety campus and directed staff to issue an RFQ for design work; staff described an accelerated timeline that could put a new facility in service within about 2.5 years.
Beaufort County staff told the Facilities Committee May 18 that an EMS headquarters at the CoolerTrak campus would address immediate facility deficiencies and also kick-start a larger public-safety campus. After a presentation of the concept and preliminary program, committee members indicated consensus to begin design work and asked staff to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ).
Frank (staff presenter) said the existing EMS building dates to 1966 and faces deferred maintenance and functional limitations. The proposed EMS headquarters would provide 4'6 bays, 24/7 operations, administrative offices, training and wellness space and secure support areas. Under an accelerated approach staff described, design kickoff would occur within six months, permitting and detailed design in months 6'18, and construction in months 18'30 — with an operational target of about 2.5 years.
Assistant county administrator Jared told the committee the CoolerTrak parcel and funding seed were in place and that staff intended to begin design procurement with an RFQ. Committee members pressed staff on how the RFQ approach would interact with an existing $610,000 CIP line for renovation of the current EMS facility; staff said remaining CIP needs could be scaled down if the CoolerTrak project moves forward and that some interim upgrades might still be required.
Members also discussed whether the site would include fire, whether buffers to adjacent homes would be adequate, and what utilities and access work (entrance road, water and sewer) would be needed. Staff said those details would be part of the conceptual phase if the committee directs the RFQ.
With broad support expressed by committee members, staff said it would proceed to issue the RFQ and return with cost estimates and a scope. The committee did not take a formal roll-call vote to obligate funds; the action authorized the next design step.
