County approves final step before EMS HQ construction

Riley County commissioners checked off the final step before construction can begin on a new emergency medical services facility.

The county commission on Thursday approved a measure to maintain the drainage system built to accommodate the new Riley County EMS headquarters, which will replace the current EMS building at 2011 Claflin Road in Manhattan.

The board held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new 15,000-square-foot facility last month.

Riley County public works director John Ellermann told commissioners that the drainage easement and covenant, the paperwork indicating that Riley County will maintain the system, was the “last piece” of documentation needed before receiving the building permit to start construction.

David Adams, the Riley County EMS director, said at the groundbreaking ceremony on April 22 that he anticipates the new headquarters to last 14 months and be completed by next summer.

After the headquarters are finished, work will begin on renovating the current EMS facility for offices and an emergency operations center for Fire District No. 1 and emergency management.

The new facility will house administrative services and Station No. 1 for EMS.

It also will include aw training room, a conference room, a full-time staffed ambulance and backup ambulances.

Archimages of Lenexa designed the new space for the $11.7-million project, funded through federal money awarded to Riley County from the American Rescue Plan Act.

BHS Construction is the county’s construction manager at-risk.

County sends out property valuation notices

In other business Thursday, Riley County appraiser Anna Burson told the commission that countywide property valuation notices went out in the mail on April 29.

Property owners who wish to appeal their personal property valuations have until May 15 to file an appeal with the Riley County Appraiser’s Office.

Agricultural-use valuations will be mailed this month to ag producers.

The next Riley County Commission meeting is set for Monday at 8:30 a.m. in the Riley County Courthouse.