County Seeking New EMS Garage on Washington Island

The Door County Board of Supervisors and the Town of Washington Island passed good faith resolutions to continue a healthy relationship between their respective emergency services as the county looks to relocate their ambulances to a new property on the island.

Door County Administrator Ken Pabich said the town allows the county to keep some of its EMS vehicles and equipment in the town-owned garages, but as the town is looking to grow its emergency services department, the property is getting squeezed.

“The Town of Washington is looking to expand in that building and the portion they want to use is the garage bay that we’re using,” Pabich said to county supervisors at the June 26 meeting. “The resolution is that we’re saying we are strong partners and we want to continue to be strong partners. And the county is going to be looking for a new spot for our ambulances to be stored and they [the town] are going to allow us to stay on site until we find that new location.”

The county helps pay for utilities and maintenance of the existing property on the corner of Airport Road and Town Line Road, but the agreement to share the building is upheld with little more than a handshake and good faith.

“The town board appreciates your considering this,” said Washington town chair Gordon Jaeger. “We’re looking forward to working with the county on this project in the future.”

The resolution describes the current 70-year-old facility as being, “overburdened, and in need of renovation or replacement to keep pace with current demands and anticipated future needs.”

Pabich said the county is currently in the market for properties on the island for new EMS facilities with the potential of purchasing a property that is already owned by the town.

In other county news, the Door County Sheriff’s Office received a $160,000 grant to support Lieutenant Tammy Sternard’s Operation Fresh Start program, which aims to reduce recidivism by reintegrating offenders back into the community.

The grant specifically goes toward the Pre-Booking Diversion Pilot Program, which seeks to keep qualifying offenders working and contributing to the community while they await trial. The program has been one topic pursued by the county’s recently formed Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.