New ambulance stations in Moran and Humboldt received more than a passing nod at Tuesday’s Allen County Commission meeting.
Currently, the county leases buildings in the outlying towns, and in both cases a number of deficiencies have been noted, from lack of space to inferior living conditions.
Commissioners directed County Counselor Alan Weber to meet with Mike Burnett and Iola Fire Chief Tim Thyer to name a steering committee to see what can be done. Among things that may be considered are a Community Development Block Grant, which would pay much of construction and outfitting costs of new stations, “at least 50 percent and perhaps more,” Weber said. The downside is that a CDBG would require federal wage scales that would increase costs by 20 to 30 percent.
Humboldt City Administrator Cole Herder said some programs include in-kind labor and might be pursued. Herder said Humboldt officials had had some discussions about a new fire station and wondered if the city’s old fire barn might be converted to an ambulance station, a proposal that didn’t find traction.
Commissioner Tom Williams suggested having the two facilities adjacent would be of advantage.
In Moran, the fire barn is relatively new, but no consideration has been voiced yet whether putting a new ambulance station next to it would be considered.
IN A MEETING given mostly to Humboldt, commissioners heard a plea from Paul Finney, who has an affinity for restoring Humboldt’s century old buildings, to remove the metal siding from the top story of the senior center, which the county owns.
Finney would prefer a brick facade and mentioned that a few years ago cost of restoration was estimated at $20,000.
Finney give a photo-enhanced tour of the downtown, pointing to recent restorations.
Joining Finney were Joe Works, John Works and Walter Wulf Jr. Joe Works, through B&W Trailer Hitches, and Wulf, through Monarch Cement, have been much involved in projects to improve the downtown.
Commissioners made no commitment. “Get us some (current) figures so we’ll have something to review,” said Commissioner Jim Talkington.
As for upcoming road projects, Mitch Garner, director of Public Works, said he was collecting information, including the price of oil, so he could give a firm figure for the cost to mill and overlay Ninth Street through the heart of Humboldt. The county is responsible for its maintenance, as well as Bridge Street, from Ninth to the west city limit, a farm-to-market road and the only access to west of the river in Allen County other than U.S. 54’s bridge west of Iola.
Williams also asked Garner to find out what could be done, and its cost, to dislodge a log jam and buildup of silt against a pier under the Marsh Arch bridge over the Neosho on Humboldt’s west boundary.
Herder said his fear was the obstruction had deepened channels on either side, including posing a threat to the integrity of the west end of the bridge.
“A big cottonwood is caught up there now and the last high water didn’t move it,” Herder said, exacerbating erosion on the west side of the bridge.
Finally, commissioners agreed to provide $2,000 in support of a 160th anniversary of Humboldt’s founding, planned for May 20 by the Humboldt Historical Preservation Alliance.
