Cole County Emergency Medical Services plans new headquarters in highest call volume area
You can watch the announcement replay in the player above.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Cole County Emergency Medical Services is building a new headquarters on the northeast corner of McCarty and Adams Street.
EMS and city officials officially announced the project Thursday afternoon at the anticipated project site. The project is made possible thanks to a $2 million Community Development Block Grant awarded to Cole County and Jefferson City.
Cole County Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman said the area for the project has the county's highest call volume. The planned site for the new headquarters is next to the county jail and Jefferson City Hall.
"Where you're standing, this is the number one call volume area, right here, everything around us," Bushman said. "We have more ambulance calls to serve to cover this area."
Data from Cole County EMS proves Bushman's point. On average, the seven city and county stationed ambulances in Cole County respond to 29 calls per week. Medic 2, stationed in the Cole County jail, responds to 57 calls per week.
Cole Count EMS Chief Eric Hoy said having the only ambulance in downtown Jefferson City stationed inside the jail creates obstacles and slows response times.
"This new facility will ensure timely access to emergency medical services for the citizens of downtown Jefferson City and the residents of northeastern Cole County," Hoy said.
Jefferson City leaders, Cole County officials and EMS worked together to get the grant.
"We know that with response times seconds count, and keeping people safe and taking care of their lives is so important, so we know that this location is going to be very central and will really make a lot of sense for that," Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin said.
The project is estimated to cost $3.7 million. Cole County EMS hope to break ground on the building before the end of the year, but currently architects are still working on designs.
