Northern Riley County residents now have better access to emergency medical services 24 hours a day, thanks to a new EMS station in Leonardville.
Riley County officials cut the ribbon Saturday on the new station, a project some believed wasn’t possible. Commissioner Greg McKinley and former Riley Mayor Tim Sharp had been pushing for a north county ambulance station since 2018.
McKinley, who campaigned on the issue in 2020, recalled a turning point at a February 2022 community meeting where north county residents packed the Leonardville Community Building, urging county officials to do something.
The new facility will have a full-time ambulance and crew, able to respond to medical emergencies in the northern part of Riley County. EMS Director David Adams says average response times will be improved by about 15 minutes from what residents previously have experienced.
Adams says the new station will be operational on Monday. Commissioner Kathryn Focke says the project is an example of the community coming together to solve a problem.
Commissioner John Ford says he’s been listening to calls for a north county ambulance station since taking his oath of office in January 2019.
The total budget for the new station, including construction costs, materials, fixtures and a new ambulance total $1.49 million, funded through money from the American Rescue Plan Act.
