Dallas County plans to build a new emergency medical services building and construction would not require voter approval.
The plans come as the county also is building an indoor firearms training center and evidence storage facility for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, and after voters on Nov. 4 for the second time shot down a proposal for a new courthouse to serve criminal cases.
The county announced Thursday, Nov. 13 its proposal for a new EMS facility to be built on land it owns on the east side of Adel between Highway 6 and the Raccoon River Valley Trail.
Rob Tietz, finance and operations director, said the new building would be located south of 415 River St. The county’s current EMS building at 512 Nile Kinnick Drive South in Adel “no longer meets the operational and staffing requirements of the department,” according to a news release.
Tietz said there is no firm budget for the project but estimates place it at $5.6 million.
He said the county may issue bonds paid for with Local Option Sales Tax revenue for the new building, but not property tax-backed bonds, which would require voter approval.
Two open houses for the public to see and tour the current EMS facility and better understand why the county needs a new one are planned for: 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 21 and 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 22.
The public also can discuss the proposal, ask questions and hear from county officials about the project at the Board of Supervisors meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Dallas County Administration Building, 800 Court St. in Adel.
The $11 million Dallas County Sheriff’s Office firearms center and evidence storage facility under construction west of the Dallas County Law Enforcement Center along U.S. Highway 6 in Adel also is being paid for with bonds backed by Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Those bonds are part of a larger $25.2 million tranche the county issued in March to also pay for projects including interior county courthouse renovations.
Nearly 57% of voters on Nov. 4 rejected a referendum allowing the county to issue bonds to build a new $60.3 million criminal courthouse to accommodate a rising number of cases in Iowa’s fastest-growing county.
Board of Supervisors Chair Kim Chapman previously told the Des Moines Register he assumed the supervisors will have to discuss the issue of courthouse space again soon, but he did not know exactly when that would be.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dallas County proposes building new $5 million EMS building
Reporting by Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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