WILCO — County officials are moving forward with increasing capacity and upgrading the facilities of the Taylor-based EMS station.
At the regular session of the Williamson County Commissioners Court Sept. 20, the commissioners unanimously approved a $1.6 million project to build a new facility for the Medic Station 42 (M42) Taylor Ambulance Station at the site of the building that currently houses the Williamson County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 4, located at 211 W. Sixth.
According to county officials, the Commissioners Court allocated the $1.6 million from the Capital Improvement Plan for the new M42 Taylor Ambulance Station.
“Today is a great day because we have the opportunity to go from being the least sought-after station to being the most sought-after station,” said Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell at the meeting.
The JP 4 offices will move in 2023 to the County’s Annex Building, located at 321 Ed Schmidt Blvd. in Hutto, which is currently being renovated, county officials said.
“The location where JP 4 is perfect (for the EMS facility),” said Mike Knipstein, the county’s EMS director. “Medic station 42 covers the eastern part of Williamson County, and the rural areas out there. People are moving there and there’s an increased call volume.”
Currently, the M42 station, which is located at 1427 N. Main St., only has room for one ambulance, and is the building on property in the flood plain owned by the City of Taylor.
“The Taylor station on Main is antiquated and needs to be replaced,” said Dale Butler, Facilities Senior Director for Williamson County At the meeting, County Judge Bill Gravell emphasized the need for expanded space, asking if the location would have enough room for two ambulances.
“I want to make sure it’s two bays because that will carry us for quite a few years, and it is less expensive to put in an additional bay today,” Gravell said.
After the motion had passed, Gravell had a message for the EMS workers.
“Mike, will you please tell the paramedics that we appreciate what they do,” Gravell said. “Out of all of the stations that I have been to, that’s the one that’s an embarrassment.”
