WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR EMS CREW QUARTERS AT PRAIRIE HILL FIRE STATION

  

Washington County Commissioners today (Tuesday) approved a lease-to-own agreement for a satellite EMS crew quarters at the Prairie Hill Volunteer Fire Station.

The agreement places a paramedic in the fire station to improve EMS response times in the Prairie Hill area, and is based off of similar agreements with the City of Burton, Chappell Hill and the Washington Volunteer Fire Department.  The Prairie Hill station recently completed remodeling for a place to house the crew and EMS response vehicle.

The lease-to-own agreement includes rent of $4,200 per month for a total of $50,400, the cost for the fire department to remodel the station, over the initial 12-month term.  The county will pay the department using Texas Ambulance Supplemental Payment (TASP) funding, not tax dollars.  The agreement begins February 5th and runs through February 5, 2024.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath acknowledged the Prairie Hill Volunteer Fire Department, particularly Chief Doyle Dahmann and Deputy Chief Doug Zwiener, for the effort to make this happen.  He said “every second counts” in an emergency, and having an ambulance a few minutes away can make all the difference in a life-or-death situation. 

County Judge John Durrenberger said the department performed the construction labor by itself, instead of hiring contractors.  He said he is “very grateful” for the fire department and for its “great cooperation.” 

Commissioner Candice Bullock thanked the department for its partnership, while Commissioner Don Koester said this is “a great thing for Washington County.”

Zwiener said the department is “glad to do it” and looks forward to working alongside EMS and the county.  He said he is looking to have a grand opening and open house once all of the EMS furniture is in the facility.

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners:

  • Approved the purchase of five Dell Latitude 5430 rugged laptops for the sheriff’s office, using $12,619 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
  • Approved the district attorney’s request to increase the salary of the intake clerk using proceeds from the district attorney’s asset forfeiture account for the remainder of 2023.
  • Appointed County Auditor Shawna Dyer to serve as the county’s records management officer, replacing Sharon Stolz.
  • Approved entering private property at 3900 Krueger Road for the public purpose of retrieving county property pursuant to Article III Section 52, The Texas Constitution.
  • Discussed formal notices for utility installation by AT&T in the Glenblythe Road right-of-way within Precinct 3, as well as PGMS in the Farmers Lane right-of-way within Precinct 4.
  • Heard monthly and annual reports from several county offices and departments.
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