New building houses all Ellis Co. emergency responders

The new Ellis Co. Emergency Services building at 1105 E. 22nd, Hays.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

For the first time, Ellis County emergency responders are all working under one roof.

Move-in day started Thursday at 1105 E. 22nd in Hays for Ellis County Emergency Services, Ellis County Rural Fire and Ellis County Emergency Manager Bill Ring.

Ellis Co. Public Works employees haul in a snack machine.

The new facility is just down the street from the former EMS building, the shortest trip for Ellis County Public Works personnel who used their department vehicles to help move the three department’s contents and supplies.

New mattresses were hauled into the EMS personnel’s sleeping area.

“I’m not sure I can sleep in a private room,” laughed Cpt. Creta LaBarge as she made the beds. “I’m so used to someone being next to me.” LaBarge is the C Shift Supervisor and has been an EMT for 28 years. When the former EMS building, 1109 Cody, was purchased in 1991, there were nine employees; today there are 43.

Ellis Co. EMS Director Kerry McCue and Training Director Lillian Slater show their new offices to Ellis Co. Commission Chairman Marcy McClelland.

emegency services ems boxes — Some EMS records previously were stored off site. Now they can be housed in the bigger building.

EMS Training Director Lillian Slater was delighted with the huge classroom in the building basement. “We used to have training at Hays Med, which was very generous of the hospital, but now it’ll be great to have it right here.”

Work began on the building in July 2014 at a projected cost of $3.5 million. The project is financed by a five-year, half-cent sales tax approved by voters in May 2013 for the construction cost, as well as safety and security improvements to the Ellis County jail and courthouse.

Ellis County Commission Chairman Marcy McClelland stopped in Thursday afternoon to watch the activity. (Video by James Bell)

The large kitchen has three refrigerators, one each for each department's personnel. — The large kitchen has three refrigerators, one each for each department’s personnel.

“It’s nice to have everything in one place,” McClelland said. “It’s been scattered throughout the city.”

Emergency dispatch remains at the courthouse which is undergoing renovation.

An official open house for the Ellis County Emergency Services Building will be held Tuesday, Oct. 27, starting with a ribbon cutting by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce at 10 a.m. Tours will be conducted until 4 p.m.