St. Henry plans new $900,000 EMS facility

ST. HENRY - Plans are in the works to construct an estimated $900,000 emergency squad building on the west end of town to increase overall space.

St. Henry squad members recently told the newspaper they hope to start construction next year.

"If the community decides it's worthwhile ... we'd like to break ground in the spring," EMS chief Matt Nietfeld said. "As an organization, we think this is important and necessary."

The new complex would be built on a vacant lot east of The Gardens at St. Henry along Western Avenue (state Route 119). The land was purchased by EMS in April. The present EMS building is located about a half mile to the east on Main Street.

Assistant chief Ryan Bollenbacher said active EMS members - who currently total 36 - hope the groups, individuals and businesses they serve will support the project.

"We hope to raise all the money with donations," he told the newspaper.

The St. Henry squad covers a 120-square-mile area that includes the communities of St. Henry, Fort Recovery, Maria Stein, Chickasaw and Burkettsville, according to assistant chief Ryan Bollenbacher.

Nietfeld said the project has been discussed for years; funds to buy the lot and build the new facility have been set aside for about 10 years and currently total about $50,000 after payment for the land.

The formal announcement for the project and the fundraising campaign kicked off this weekend as past and current EMS staff gathered to celebrate the squad's 40th anniversary.

The current EMS building, built in 1975, is "grossly insufficient to meet the needs of a modern-day EMS agency," squad personnel stated in a letter to be mailed to the 4,000 households in their service area.

The present EMS facility measures about 1,500 square feet; the new building would span about 6,000 square feet.

"We're in line to get a new vehicle in about two years and it just won't fit in here," Bollenbacher said, as he pointed to the two older ambulances already filling the crowded bays.

A few yards from the vehicles is a modest area with a table where small meetings and some classes are held.

"Right now we have to pull one of the ambulances outside for CPR or first aid classes to have enough room," Nietfeld said.

He'd like to provide more classes for the community on a monthly basis but enough space isn't available, he said.

The current building offers little storage space for supplies, no laundry room - members take linens home to wash - and a small bathroom.

The proposed new facility would include a large meeting room area for classes/education, office space to maintain and store state-required records; larger ambulance bays that provide room to properly wash and disinfect the vehicles and adequate parking for squad functions and community education.  The proposed new building also would meet the community's long-term needs, Nietfeld said.

"Years down the road we eventually will have to have people on station all the time," he said.

He believes a full-time, paid EMS department will someday be needed in St. Henry, he said.

The site of the new building will continue to give squad members a quick exit for emergency response, they said.

"We wanted to stay on the highway (state Route 119) so we would have an easy east or west route out of town to our coverage areas," Bollenbacher explained.

Squad members said they are working to get local officials informed and on board.

"We've already spoken to Ron (village administrator Ron Gelhaus)," Nietfeld said, adding they also will discuss the project with village councilors within their service area, county commissioners and others.

The EMS has not solicited money from the community since 1991 when $14,000 was raised for a Lifepak heart monitor, he said.

"Nobody likes to go out and ask for money," Nietfeld said. "A levy was suggested but nobody wants to pay more taxes."

The group hopes that those who cannot help by becoming a squad member will support the future of the village's EMS with a donation.

For more information, to donate or join the squad, go to www.sthenryems.com or the group's Facebook page. An account for donations also is being set up at St. Henry Bank.