Within the next couple of weeks, Cole County ambulance crews will be moving into their new work and living area at their base on Southridge Drive.
Moving from the back of the facility to the front increases the space for ambulances and their crews from 900 square feet to 5,000 square feet.
Six ambulances will be housed in the new bays in the front, compared to the four that can be housed in the bays in the back.
A medical supply room will be located directly behind the bay along with a dispatch center.
Behind this area is a kitchen/dayroom/report writing area, similar to what was installed at the new Jefferson City Fire Station No. 3 off Missouri 179.
Behind that area are bunk areas for crews to rest in and a laundry room.
Currently, the kitchen, dispatch, a couple of offices and two bunk rooms are all located in areas above the ambulance bays.
"This project has been five years in the making," said ambulance director Mike Shirts. "This is the second home for many of our folks, and when they come off a 24-hour shift, they need a nice place to come back to and rest up to get ready to go again."
Back in April, the County Commission voted to have Ameresco do the project for $1.2 million.
"I think for being on time and on budget they did a great job," said Presiding Commissioner Marc Ellinger. "There were no change orders throughout the project."
Ellinger and Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher voted in favor of the project while Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle voted against it, saying he felt a new building would have cost only slightly more than doing the expansion and they lost some storage space with the move.
However, during a tour of the expansion Thursday, Scheperle said he was pleased with what had been done.
"I still think it cost too much, but when folks work 24-hour shifts, they need to have a good place to come back to," he said.
What will be done with the area in the back of the building has not been decided yet, Ellinger said.
The commission plans to vote on the final documents to complete the project next week after cosmetic work is done.