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	Corporate Report
DEPARTMENT/	CAO's Office
DIVISION	Emergency Medical Services	REPORT NO.	2008.127
DATE PREPARED	June 9, 2008	FILE NO.
MEETING DATE	June 23, 2008
SUBJECT	Armstrong - EMS Station Construction

RECOMMENDATION

With respect to Report No. 2008.127 (Emergency Medical Services), we recommend that a new EMS Station be constructed that will house paramedics and ambulances serving the Hamlet of Armstrong and the Whitesands and Gull Bay First Nations;

AND THAT the Facilities and Fleet Department be authorized to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for consulting services for the design and construction of the new EMS station;

AND THAT the project be funded in accordance with the attached Source of Financing;

AND THAT Appropriation Change Order #17 be approved;

AND THAT the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute any necessary documentation;

AND THAT any necessary by-laws be presented to Council for ratification.

Superior North EMS’ Armstrong EMS Station is inadequate and has long passed its useful life. There are significant structural problems and the facility itself is not meeting various building standards and codes.

Discussions with the Ministry of Health on providing funding for a new station have been ongoing for some time, and since November of 2007, EMS administration has been engaged in detailed negotiations for funding. On May 27, 2008, the Ministry of Health notified the Corporation that they would provide up to $920,000 in capital funding for the construction of the new station.

Superior North EMS administration has known for some time that the current facility in Armstrong is inadequate. The building was constructed in two phases, 30 and 20 years ago, by volunteers. A January 2006 consultant’s report indicated that:
• several components of the building require replacement;
• the floor in the living area should be rebuilt with proper framing and foundations;
• fire rated walls are required between the living area and the garage;
• there are several mechanical deficiencies which should be corrected;
• there should be an installation of an above ground gas storage tank;
• there should be installation of floor drains in the garage; and
• several electrical deficiencies should be corrected.
The January 2006 estimate to repair the building to bring it to code and standard was $301,600. In 2007, EMS made some repairs to the facility. Attempts to contact and discuss the problems with the building’s owner to reconcile the problems have gone unresolved.

On May 27, 2008, a letter was received from the Ministry indicating that one-time capital funding for a new station would be provided.

EMS administration along with Facilities and Fleet administration have agreed to coordinate the design and construction efforts on behalf of the Ministry of Health.

In November of 2007, EMS administration and the Ministry of Health agreed that our Armstrong Station and paramedics were considered to be serving either Townships Without Municipal Organization (TWOMO) or First Nations. Accordingly, the provision of emergency medical services to the Hamlet of Armstrong, the Whitesands and Gull Bay First Nations, and areas along the Hwy 527 corridor is to be funded at 100% by the Ministry of Health on a “go forward” basis.

The construction of a new EMS Station in Armstrong will be funded 100% by the Ministry of Health (up to $920,000). Further, operating costs incurred with the new station will be funded at 100% by the Province.

Based on order of magnitude estimates, the funding should be adequate. As such, there should be no cost to the Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay either for the capital or future operating costs.

It is concluded that a new EMS facility should be constructed in the Hamlet of Armstrong at no cost of the City of Thunder Bay.

It is also concluded that the project should be funded in accordance with the attached Source of Financing and that Appropriation Change Order #17 should be approved.

It is further concluded that the Facilities and Fleet Department should be authorized to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for consulting services for the design and construction of the new EMS station.

Informal discussions with the Ministry of Health on replacing the Armstrong EMS Station have been conducted since 2003 with little tangible result. After the Province agreed with EMS administration (November 2007) that the Province is required to fund Armstrong EMS operations at 100%, detailed discussions on one-time capital funding were held.

On May 27, 2008, the Corporation was informed by the Ministry that they would indeed provide one-time capital funding to construct a new facility.

ATTACHMENT A: Source of Financing

ATTACHMENT B: Appropriation Change Order #17