Inertia builds behind EMS move

SANDPOINT — A trial run of stationing a Bonner County EMS ambulance at the Sandpoint Fire Department appears to have run its course.

The joint agreement between the two agencies is less than three months old but is on its last legs as the county moves ahead with the lease of the former Big Sky Paramedics building near Bonner General Hospital.

By all accounts, the arrangement between Bonner EMS and Sandpoint Fire resulted in improved response times in the city, where the bulk of the general call volume is. Data compiled by the fire department since the experiment began showed there was a 73 percent reduction in the average arrival time compared to responses from the Bonner EMS station in Kootenai.

But the need for the agreement fell into question when the county began considering relocating its EMS headquarters from Kootenai to the vacant building at 521 North Third Avenue.

County officials have said they annually consider utilization of Big Sky’s building and its new owners are offering a rental rate and other inducements that are worthy of serious consideration.

The inertia building behind the relocation proposal, however, has taken its toll on the accord between Sandpoint Fire and Bonner EMS.

The county and city each provided personnel to staff the rig, but fire Chief Robert Tyler has asked the county to fully staff the ambulance in light of the pending lease of the Big Sky facility.

“However, the ambulance may remain housed in the Sandpoint Fire Department until BCEMS secures a new station in town or September 30th whichever comes first,” Tyler said in a May 27 letter to EMS Chief Rob Wakeley.

The Big Sky lease was taken up by county commissioners on Tuesday.

“I am of the strong opinion we should move forward with the Big Sky building,” Wakeley told the board.

The rent the county currently pays in Kootenai is $4,650 a month, while Third Avenue LLC is offering a rental rate of $4,500 with 10 months free.

The building, which was repurposed from a former motel, has been vacant since Big Sky folded six years ago. The building has some rot and mold problems, but the landowners have agreed to make necessary repairs.

But the commission stopped short of entering into the lease with Third Avenue LLC amid lingering questions.

“I understand why you’re wanting to do this, but I still have concerns,” Commissioner Joe Young said to Wakeley.

Between the disrepair of the building, the fact that the county is still in the process of acquiring the former Calvary Church Young wondered if it would be better to hold off for the time being.

Commissioners Cornel Rasor and Lewie Rich ultimately voted to table the lease.