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Ellis County outlines $10 million bond plan for new EMS and fire station; residents express concern
Summary
Ellis County commissioners and county staff described a $10 million bond package to accelerate county infrastructure projects, including a proposed EMS/fire facility; county officials said the plan uses sales tax and reserves and would not raise property taxes, while residents and some councilors raised questions about cost, timing and local control.
Ellis County Commissioner Michael Burgess and County Administrator/Fire Chief Darren Myers presented the county's capital plan to the Ellis City Council, framing a recently approved $10,000,000 bond as a way to accelerate five county infrastructure projects, including a planned EMS and fire station.
Burgess told the council the bond will let the county "push the timeline on these projects" and stressed the commission's intent not to raise property taxes for the work: "It's a $10,000,000 bond that we approved," he said, adding the county plans to pay debt service using sales tax receipts and reserve funds rather than a property‑tax increase.
The presentation offered a conceptual design and budget scenarios but did not name a final site or provide a firm price tag for the Ellis EMS/fire facility. Myers described the county's approach as a facilities consolidation (shared building footprint) rather than a consolidation of municipal services: "This is a consolidation of building, not a consolidation of services," he said, adding the county has "no intent" to take over city fire operations.
Council members pressed for specifics about cost sharing, building size and whether the city would retain operational control over its fire crews. Burgess and Myers said the county is soliciting offers from landowners and building owners, has yet to select a location, and expects detailed cost estimates and a final site at least a year or more away. Myers noted the design work has been sized as a pre‑engineered metal building and that adding bays for city use could be negotiated depending on the city's interest and budget priorities.
Resident Ellen Riedel spoke during public comment and urged caution, saying she has collected petition signatures opposing the combined facility and warning that bond proceeds backed by sales tax still carry tax risk if projected revenues fall short: "If they do not create enough sales tax revenue, your property taxes will increase," she said, adding she could not find evidence the building as proposed would demonstrably save lives compared with renovating existing facilities.
County officials also discussed related infrastructure work and grant efforts, including a separate federal highway grant application for three bridges that would require matching funds. Burgess clarified that the $10 million bond is restricted to the projects the county identified and cannot be used for the bridge work.
Next steps: the county said it will continue negotiating possible sites and options and will return to the city with more detailed cost estimates and formal proposals. Council members suggested follow‑up discussion in September to continue the coordination between city and county officials.
