Treasure Coast Newspaper
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — A new ambulance station soon could open near the North County pool to improve response times to Vero Lake Estates, but county officials are unsure of the cost.
County commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to move the modular building currently housing Station 1 firefighters in Vero Beach to state or county property near the pool, off County Road 512. Commissioner Joe Flescher made the request, estimating about 10 people would be needed to staff it. He said he wanted to see it worked into the county budget, if possible.
County staff will estimate the cost of staffing the new Station 15 and equipping it with an ambulance.
Modular housing was ordered last year during extensive mold and air-quality renovations at Station 1, 1500 Old Dixie Highway. Firefighters are expected to move into the renovated Station 1 next month, which means the modular building would not be needed. The county spent $170,519 to buy and install the modular building.
Flescher said it makes sense to move the building to a place that needs additional coverage, rather than move it to a temporary location.
“We have an unserved area that needs to be addressed,” he said. “This is the most cost-effective manner to do it.”
Flescher said the county likely will be unable to recoup the money spent on the temporary building.
“I think this might be the time to do it,” Flescher said. “If we don’t do it now, we are going to lose the window of opportunity.”
Once the building is moved, the county could decide the best way to pay for turning it into a new station if money is available, commissioners said.
Vero Lake Estates needs additional coverage, Flescher said. Last week, it took firefighters from Station 10 in Fellsmere 14 minutes to reach a garage fire in the community. The responding ladder truck took 19 minutes to arrive, he said.
Emergency Services Director John King said it could take about six months to open the new station, because of permitting and state requirements. If the county decides to equip the station, the money would come from the Emergency Services District.
Commissioner Bob Solari opposed the move, saying he previously has approved increases to the emergency services tax rate, and was against raising the rate again to pay for a new station.
“I believe we have a plan that addresses the needs pretty well,” he said. “I’m going to have to say no at some point.”
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