PETERSBURG — Township Committee is moving forward with an application for federal funding to build a new EMS facility.
Mayor Curtis Corson said the township applied for the Community Project Funding Grant last year, seeking $7 million to $8 million to build a community center, and was unsuccessful. He suggested the township apply this year to fund a facility for the township’s Division of EMS.
“I think that would be a better use for the grant versus the community center because we did have all this work done in July” at the existing community center, he said.
According to Township Clerk Joanne Herron, Township Committee contracted with architect Robbie Conley last April to conduct a needs assessment and feasibility study for a new EMS building. Township Chief Financial Officer Barbara Ludy said it cost $7,000.
Temporary Administrator Joe Verruni said Township Committee needs to decide soon “whether to change gears from what was proposed in the past and go toward a first responders and EMS building or stay the current course” just to be eligible for the grant funding.
Engineer Ryan MacNeill said the deadline to apply is March 14, noting the township would need a resolution approving the application on the agenda March 10.
“We would have to move fairly quick if we wanted to apply for this,” Corson said.
Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen asked if there were any way to split the grant between two projects — a community center and EMS facility — but MacNeill said it would have to be just one project.
“So it comes down to which building is more in need. We just recently renovated the community center, spent a solid amount of money. I’ve toured EMS, it certainly has deficiencies, so that would be my leaning but I’m certainly wide open to discussion.”
Corson said they paid for the study and should follow through with its recommendations.
“We can mirror the grant we did last year for the community center or we can actually use this study that we did, that we paid money for, and actually do a resolution that supports the study,” Corson said.
Committeeman Tyler Casaccio said he favors construction of an EMS facility.
“I think no matter whether you’re 2 years old or 100 years old, the EMS service is something everyone in the township uses at some point in their life whether they plan for it or not, and I think one of the benefits here in Upper Township is having our own township EMS,” Casaccio said.
He explained that his grandfather needed an ambulance recently and that help arrived within minutes of the call. In addition, he said, Deputy Chief John Brittin was nearby and stopped to check in with the family.
“I don’t think you are going to get that type of service with a private EMS service and I think investing in something like this for our community would only further guarantee a township-sponsored, township-based EMS service going forward. I would be strongly in favor of moving toward EMS there, especially after observing and reading the study.”
Corson said the study noted a long list of deficiencies in the current facility.
“For me, I’m thinking common sense. We directly fixed deficiencies related to the community center — not that it’s perfect, nothing’s perfect — but there’s outlying deficiencies 30 pages deep,” Nappen said. “Again, that is my leaning.”
Casaccio asked whether the facility would be an OEM type of building or limited to the Division of EMS.
Corson said a new facility would allow the township to move the ambulances from an old barn behind the current EMS building, freeing that space up for the Upper Township Beach Patrol’s use. In addition, the radio room and equipment would be moved from Township Hall to the new facility, in turn freeing up space there.
Nappen said if they did go with an EMS facility it would not stop them from continuing to improve other facilities, including the community center, which he noted has deficiencies such as overcrowding.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
