Members
Address
158 Burlington Road PO Box 165 Harwinton, CT 06791 Phone/Fax: 860-485-0544 |
New Building Questions
1. Why do we need a new building? The existing space has not met the needs of the Harwinton Ambulance Association for many years. In fact, finding a new location for the ambulance has been an ongoing project for the last 20 years or so. The current headquarters consists of single vehicle bay and a 16' x 16' room in the firehouse on Burlington Road. It does not provide the necessary space and resources as it lacks:
More information 2. This project was originally proposed and approved at no cost to the Town, why is there a request for additional funding? In 2011 the anticipated cost of the proposed building was approximately $750,000. Additional requirements placed on the project after the referendum, as well as the associated time delays, have resulted in an increased project cost. Some of the key increases include the $54,000 environmental insurance policy paid for by the ambulance, increased drainage requirements by the DOT and the State approval process. Also consider in those 2.5 years we have seen an increased cost associated with the labor and materials as well. 3. How much in additional funds is being requested? The request is for a maximum of $325,000 from surplus funds. This includes contingency funding to cover potential cost overages during construction. The request is for $425,000 from surplus with $100,000 to be reimbursed back to the account by the ambulance association. It is structured in this manner because the ambulance cannot write a check directly to the builder as the contract is with the Town, not the ambulance. 4.Why don’t we just build a smaller building? The current building plans meet the minimum requirement for the Ambulance Association. Due economies of scale, reducing the building does not achieve any appreciable savings until it reaches the point where it is not much larger than the space that we operate now. If we built a facility similar in size the current space, we would immediately need to start building on an addtion. This approach would cost the taxpayers a great deal more money than completing the job correctly the first time. 5. Will my taxes go up if these funds are approved? No, there will be no increase in taxes if the funds are approved. This one time expenditure will come from the Town surplus with no impact on the budget. 6. Why should I support the additional funds? The volunteer members of the Harwinton Ambulance Association save the taxpayers over $300,000 every year over the use of a commercial EMS service. Also, in addition to the annual cost savings we provide a much more extensive level of service than would be provided by this type of agency. We provide two ambulances to their one, EMS coverage at many town events and functions, emergency shelter staffing, community outreach programs such as CPR, First Aid and Babysitting classes, a network of AED equipped first responders throughout the community and more. Supporting the appropriate of these funds provides our members with the tools needed to continue providing this tax savings as well as ensure that our community receives the best EMS care possible. 7. Do we need such an expensive building? It is a common misconception that a $980,000 public safety building must be large and have many unnecessary amenities to warrant the price tag, especially when comparing it to the cost of building a home. First, since this project exceeds the State’s $400,000 new construction threshold, the labor is subject to prevailing wages. This dramatically increases the price. Secondly, public safety buildings are required to meet more stringent building standards. Additionally, the building systems are all commercial grade to ensure reliability and long term operation. These are just a few of the items that increase the cost of the building, even when constructing one of a basic design like we are. At approximately 5,100 SF, the building is comparable to or in some instances, smaller than the neighboring towns’ ambulance facilities. It will be roughly 800 SF smaller than each of the firehouses in town. It is designed to include all of the basic features needed in this type of facility. In addition, this building will also house the town’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). One of the important criteria for an EOC is to have sufficient facilities to house and feed an emergency staff 24 hrs a day during the length of a townwide incident. This is done without adding any additional square footage to the building by creating a dual purpose use for several of the rooms. 8. Why not add on to the existing ambulance/firehouse facility? The current builiding and property is owned by the Harwinton Volunteer Fire Department. There is insufficient property to allow for any further expansion of the structure. The purchase of the gas station would not provide a viable option to add on the building for two major reasons. First, the Fire Department would have to give up ownership of their building and property in order to combine it with the new property. This would be required to use the grants as they can only be utilized for town owned projects. Secondly, the steel frame structure is not designed in a way that would make an addition to the eastern side of the building practical. For additional concerns/issues associated with atttemping an addition to the current building, please review the November 23rd 2010 building committee minutes. 9. Who will own/maintain the building? The Town of Harwinton will own the building, and the ambulance will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the structure. Association volunteers will maintain the facility on a day-to-day basis.[ 10. How much will it cost to maintain the building? The Ambulance Association will pay for the operating and maintenance costs out of our annual operating budget. The current Firehouse costs approximately $11,000 a year for heating and electricity. We anticipate the new structure to be less expensive than this to operate based on the fact that it is smaller, has less large open areas to heat and will be significantly more energy efficient. These costs are defrayed by providing a more effective location for our volunteers to operate from which is often a motivating factor in the amount of time a volunteer is willing to commit. Filling on extra 12 hour shift a week with a volunteer covers the additional costs. 11. Do we need such a large building? It is a common misconception that a $950,000 public safety building must be large and have many unnecessary amenities to warrant the price tag, especially when comparing it to the cost of building a home. First, since this project exceeds the State’s $400,000 new construction threshold, the labor is subject to prevailing wages. This dramatically increases the price. Secondly, public safety buildings are required to meet more stringent building standards. Additionally, the building systems are all commercial grade to ensure reliability and long term operation. These are just a few of the items that increase the cost of the building, even when constructing one of a basic design like we are. At approximately 5,100 SF, the building is comparable to or in some instances, smaller than the neighboring towns’ ambulance facilities. It will be roughly 800 SF smaller than each of the firehouses in town. It is designed to include all of the basic features needed in this type of facility. In addition, this building will also house the town’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). One of the important criteria for an EOC is to have sufficient facilities to house and feed an emergency staff 24 hrs a day during the length of a townwide incident. This is done without adding any additional square footage to the building by creating a dual purpose use for the rooms. 12. Is this building just to house the ambulance? No, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be relocated to the new building from its existing office in the basement of the town hall. This will allow the EOC to be close to emergency responders during a town-wide emergency as well as providing sleeping, shower and kitchen facilties for members staffing the EOC. The need for these resources was demostrated recently during hurricane Irene when the EOC was run from Town Hall. By moving the EOC to the ambulance facility it also allows for the potential for funds earmarked for these types of centers to be used in the construction of the building. 13. Why are there sleeping quarters in the building? By having sleeping quarters, members are able to respond to calls during overnight shifts directly from the ambulance building, thereby reducing response times. In addition, during major storms, there is a need for additional personnel to stay at the ambulance facility. In either case the main goal is to ensure reduced response times. Additionally the town's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be run from this building for which bunk rooms may be needed as well. |
Copyright ©2021 Harwinton EMS. All rights reserved.
|