County cuts ribbon on Keokuk EMS bay

HERE TO STAY

To put up a building like this that will last us generations, that shows everyone our dedication and the county's dedication, to provide the service to the Keokuk area for many years to come. We're here to stay.”

Mark Long, Lee County EMS Director

KEOKUK – County officials cut the ribbon on a brand new $1 million Lee County EMS facility in Keokuk Monday night.
The new facility replaces a dilapidated ambulance and staff garage and was built on the location of the former Lee County EMS Ambulance center. It also is about two years in front of a new EMS bay in Fort Madison that will be part of the Lee County Health Department.
Lee County Supervisors Chairman Garry Seyb called the facilities “generational projects”.
Seyb said he wanted to thank the taxpayers for supporting the project.
“They have funded this as well as ARPA funding, and they’re our boss. That’s who we work for, and we really try to make decisions that are best for the taxpayers, always,” he said.
He said the project came in under budget by close to $100,000, which he said is phenomenal in today’s construction market.
"This is a generational build. This will be around long after I’m gone off the board and probably long after I’m gone. It’s an important investment that we’ve made in our ambulance crews.”
The facility will support two crews that run 24/7 year-round with a focus on Keokuk and Lee County as a whole.
Keokuk Mayor Kathy Mahoney thanked everyone involved in the project saying that it has improved the safety and response to the residents of Keokuk.
Lee County EMS Director Mark Long said the biggest impact is the dedication to the future.
“To put up a building like this that will last us generations, that shows everyone our dedication and the county's dedication, to provide the service to the Keokuk area for many years to come,” he said. “We’re here to stay.”
He said the new facilities will help with retention and recruitment. It also helps with space for equipment, training, and medical supplies.
He said there are twelve full-time staff who work out of the facility now with four-person shifts. Two of them rotate through other locations. He said the department is fully staffed currently.
“Once we get that building up, we’ll be in great shape. The buildings will be in great shape for longer than I’m here, I’m sure. The locations are great for areas to serve populations around them,” he said.
The building was funded with county funds, some Keokuk Community Foundation funds, and supplemental America Rescue Plan Act funding.
The facility includes a large meeting/common area, private sleeping quarters, a work room, a kitchen, storage areas, and room for three ambulances inside.
The facility currently under construction in Fort Madison is close to a year from completion, and is funded with a mix of federal, state, and local funding streams. That building is a projected $6.5 million build and will house the Lee County Health Department and the Fort Madison EMS bay.