County considers EMS, water park facilities

story by Aric Mitchell
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Sebastian County Quorum Court members met Tuesday night to discuss future plans for the existing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) facilities in Greenwood.

Following review and acceptance of the 2011 budget, the quorum court has researched the practicality of renovating existing facilities against constructing an entirely new building. At Tuesday night’s meeting, which took place at the Greenwood courthouse following a tour of the EMS facilities, estimates were released.

“I’m an EMS advocate, but we have to do what makes sense, and what will show good stewardship of county funds,” said Sebastian County Judge David Hudson.

Hudson’s recommendation: choose the renovation. Estimates revealed a cost comparison of $449,815 for a new garage and renovation of the existing 6,600 square foot facility against the $600,000 to $720,000 it would cost to construct a new facility. New construction costs would be for a 6,000 square foot building at $100 to $120 per square foot. Renovations would cost only $40 per square foot.

The county is also mulling the idea of adding personnel. EMS runs one 24-hour crew and one 16-hour crew. By expanding to two 24-hour crews, it would cost at least $150,000 per year in operating expenses.

Both decisions will be discussed at length at the quorum court’s Aug. 30 planning session, which was set at Tuesday night’s meeting. Additional expenses, for which there are no estimates, would be to update connectivity within the EMS facility so patient care and billing reports may be transmitted to the main office simultaneously. CenturyTel and AT&T are reportedly working on cost estimates and will have their report at a later date.

As for why the measures could not move forward Tuesday, Hudson said, “We really need to look at this in view of all the other projects. We’re going to need to discuss what earmarks we have in capital reserve, sales tax money, and project priorities. We have too many earmarked and not enough money to do everything that we want to.”

One issue to be revisited at the Aug. 30 meeting is the aquatics facility slated for Ben Geren Park. A joint meeting for Sept. 13 between the county and the city of Fort Smith will shed more light on whether the facility will move forward, but Hudson admits the upcoming planning session may factor in to how aquatics is ultimately handled.

In July, The City Wire reported that two plans are being discussed for the aquatics park: a $4.75 million facility that Sebastian County would install and operate; and a $7.4 million facility that would be a city and county partnership. The aquatics park would include water slides, a lazy river, swimming areas, a large pavilion, and other amenities.