By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
“It’s a truly great day in our community. It’s been a long time coming and it really feels awesome.” That’s how Ellis County Commissioner Dean Haselhorst summed up Tuesday’s official opening of the new Ellis County Emergency Services Building, 1105 E. 22nd, Hays.
A ribbon-cutting was conducted by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce outside the building as a light rain fell. The crowd then went inside for opening remarks and tours of the $3.5 million facility.
For the first time in Ellis County history, county Emergency Medical Services, Rural Fire, and Emergency Management are all under one roof.
“One and a half weeks ago, we received the keys to this beautiful facility. For me it was somewhat of a special day,” said Emergency Manager Bill Ring. “That same day seven years earlier, I had started working for Ellis County.”
Ring’s office had been in the basement of the Law Enforcement Center in the Ellis County courthouse. “Now as I start my eighth year, I have a beautiful above ground office–with a large window–to watch the weather, which is one of my jobs,” he said with a laugh.
Ring, Rural Fire Chief Darin Myers and EMS Director Kerry McCue, both in their dress uniforms, all spoke before leading 20-minute tours through each area of the building.
“It’s a great accomplishment and we have a great group of county volunteers for the fire department,” Myers said. He pointed out that the building houses just one of the rural fire companies. There are five more throughout Ellis County.
Former rural fire chief Dick Klaus, who recently retired after serving 36 years, was recognized as well as several former Ellis County commissioners, including Swede Holmgren, Perry Henman and Glenn Diehl. Ellis County Chairman Marcy McClelland explained the funding of the project.
Work began on the building in July 2014, financed by a five-year, half-cent sales tax approved by county voters in May 2013. The tax is also being used to fund safety and security improvements underway at the Ellis County Law Enforcement Center and courthouse, 1204 Fort. Emergency dispatch remains in the LEC basement.
“For the past 21 months, collections have averaged $287,000 per month,” McClelland said. The tax will remain in effect for five years, or until both projects are paid off.
“We appreciate the votes in favor of the sales tax to do this,” said McCue. “We started looking at space needs for EMS in 1996, a journey of almost 20 years.”
Father Fred Gatschet of the FHSU Comeau Catholic Campus Center and First Presbyterian Church pastor and Ellis County Ministerial Alliance President Celeste Lasich led prayers of thanksgiving and protection for the Ellis County first responders.
Lasich told the audience her father Bill was “lifetime law enforcement, and that started in the fire department. So I am someone, as many of you who are family members, know what it is to have your loved one come home from successfully having fought a fire. I’m grateful for all of you,” she said with a sweep of her arm towards first responders gathered for the ceremony in the fire engine bay.
Haselhorst, who took over as construction manager of the building several months ago, also thanked the Ellis County Space Needs Committee, the architects and contractors.
Commissioner Barb Wasinger, who underwent surgery Tuesday, was unable to attend.
The opening ceremony video, by Hays Post’s James Bell, is below.