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More room in storage area helps ambulance crews [UPDATED]
Published 9:36am Tuesday, February 21, 2012 Updated 10:19am Wednesday, February 22, 2012Responding to an ambulance call has challenges, but one adverse situation no longer affects members of the Henning Ambulance Service. The crews, following the move to the new city hall complex, no longer have to deal with cramped quarters.
“Just getting the ambulances in and out of the garage at the old location was a challenge in itself,” said Bob Reinbold, co-director of the Henning Ambulance Service. “That’s one issue we no longer have to deal with.”
The city fire department stayed in its current location, adjacent to the old city hall, but has more space since the ambulance service now is located in the new city hall complex.
“We serve a 15-mile radius of Henning,” said Reinbold, “and last
year we answered 320 calls. Twelve of us serve as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), and we have three firemen who are First Responders and help out as needed.”
The other co-directors, along with Reinbold, are Helen Husfeldt and Jane Cook. Reinbold is a banker and farmer. Another ambulance volunteer, Scott Grabe, serves as utilities superintendent for the city of Henning.
The new city hall, which includes the ample storage space for two ambulances and related equipment, is located a block south of the former city hall where fire and police offices have moved into space formerly used by the city staff.
The final bills have been paid for the new city hall in Henning and the total is $463,291. This includes funding needed for remodeling and expansion of the former Johnson building.
The remodeled project was accomplished through the current city budget and there are no tax increases for city residents. Henning’s city council saw the critical need for a drive-through for ambulances and more storage space for fire department supplies.
County agencies now can use some of the space at the former city hall. For instance, the county veterans service representative meets once a week with area veterans. Also using the freed-up space, periodically, will be County Human Services (social workers and others) and county public health employees, to name a few.
