By Soncirey Mitchell
Reader Staff
Work is nearing completion on the new Bonner County Emergency Medical Services Station 1, a project that has been in progress since 2020 under the previous board of county commissioners.
The building, situated at 1314 Ontario St., is set to open in fall of 2024 and will feature office and storage space as well as quarters for on-call EMS workers and much more.
“The facility will include a modern examination room for the coroner, a new Veterans Service Office and office space to better serve the needs of Bonner County as it continues to grow,” wrote current Commission Chair Luke Omodt in an April 2 email to the Reader.
The county leases the current EMS facility at 521 N 3rd Ave. on a year-to-year basis, costing an average of $10,000 per month in rent, utilities and maintenance, according to Omodt. Though it’s done the job for years, the former hotel is made up of multiple buildings, meaning crew, administration and medical supply areas are all separate.
“We’re most excited about being able to call something our own and not worry about potentially losing it,” Bonner County EMS Chief Jeff Lindsey told the Reader. “Having everything under one roof and having a facility that’s more tailored also helps with communication and all sorts of things.”
“Just being able to put the crew in new facilities means, to me, that the county is standing behind us and is supportive of EMS and vested in keeping us around,” he added.
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