Work Begins on Wellsville EMS Station
An informal groundbreaking was held this morning for the new EMS station in Wellsville. Local officials and members of the EMS team gathered to take a photo and celebrate this momentous occasion.
In the works for years, the project will adjoin the Wellsville Police Department, lending itself to greater efficiency. The new facility will improve and modernize the current building in order to better serve residents and visitors of the area.
Franklin County EMS Chief Christi Hilliker and her team are excited about the project that will enhance the station’s location and growth potential.
“Significant growth along the I-35 corridor has led to an almost doubling of ambulance calls for service in the city of Wellsville and surrounding communities. This has made it evident that EMS has outgrown the current location,” said Chief Hilliker. “From facility features to room for growth to optimal location, the new station encompasses all attributes to allow the best in emergency medical care for citizens and visitors of Franklin County.”
The new station -- to be located at 706 E. 7th Street – is in close proximity to K33 Highway and I-35. Because of this, an improvement in already above-average response times is anticipated. It is the first purpose-built EMS Station in Franklin County in over 40 years and will feature an ambulance bay with a decontamination station, on-site laundry facilities, separate bunkrooms with access to bathroom and shower facilities, and proper storage spaces for medical equipment and supplies.
“Having proper storage spaces will create a reduction in travel time to Ottawa for restocking of supplies, less crew fatigue and mileage on ambulances, and an increase in time the ambulance remains in the designated response district,” said Chief Hilliker.
Recognizing that the Franklin County EMS Team is essential to the community’s wellbeing – and that it is critical to provide them with quality facilities and resources to perform their duties both effectively and efficiently – Franklin County officials are excited to see the project underway.
“We've been working on this for quite some time,” said Franklin County Commissioner Don Stottlemire. “The new station will benefit the entire community for years to come and is the product of a great partnership between the City of Wellsville and Franklin County.”
“I am incredibly excited for County EMS staff,” said County Administrator, Derek Brown. “They work so hard and give so much, often under unimaginably stressful conditions. Thanks in large part to the generosity of the City of Wellsville and the Franklin County Commissioners, I am pleased that the organization is able to do this and help alleviate the burden on these vital public servants.”
Construction is expected to be completed in Spring of 2024. A public open house and ribbon cutting are being planned for the station upon completion.