The County of Essex hopes to start construction soon on a new EMS base in Kingsville, but first, it has to choose the contractor.
A report to Essex County Council for Wednesday night's meeting recommends Gulf Developments Inc. in Windsor. The bid was for $4.3-million.
Since 2000, Essex Windsor EMS has leased space at the Kingsville Fire Hall after the province downloaded emergency medical services onto the county. The station is cramped. There's only one washroom, no storage space, and the garage has room for just one vehicle.
Since then, ambulances have gotten larger, and the equipment needs have grown.
The county wants to build a station similar to the new one on Dougall Avenue in Windsor with three drive-thru garage bays that can fit six vehicles, men's and women's washrooms, space specifically for storage, a fuel depot, and a more spacious lounge.
It bought a parcel of land in April 2021 on Road 2 East in Kingsville and issued a request for tenders to build the new station in May.
A total of four bids were submitted. They ranged in price from $3.8-million to $5.6-million.