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“We can handle this,” Dare County manager Robert L. Outten told Dare Commissioners Dec. 6, 2021, as he presented a preliminary report about improvements for the county’s emergency medical service stations.

The price tag is $40 million. “We have sufficient coverage built in,” said the manager. Other planned capital improvement projects are not compromised.

The plans are “not etched in stone,” said Outten.

Some of the projects are joint ventures with incorporated municipalities or with volunteer fire departments. Others are standalone facilities.

Dare’s architectural firm, Oakley Collier Architects, presented preliminary information to the board’s Capital Improvements Plan Committee the Friday before Dec. 6.

The EMS station in Kill Devil Hills serves as both the agency’s administrative hub and an active response station. Preliminary estimates to build a new station with Dare EMS and Kill Devil Hills police and fire departments total $17.76 million, with Dare’s share at $10.06 million.

Another partnership is with the Town of Nags Head. This project has a $5 million placeholder.

Dare County is partnering with Kitty Hawk in a new station combining EMS with the town’s police and fire departments. Total cost is estimated at $8,521,237 with the county share at $1,693,401. The Town of Kitty Hawk will construct the building and finance over 10 years. Dare will pay its share of debt service over the same term. MW Studios is the firm on this project.

In Rodanthe, Dare County is partnering with the Chicamacomico Banks Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. A new building housing fire and EMS equipment has an estimated price tag of $10,175,395 with Dare’s share at $4.87 million.

For the Southern Shores building, Outten reported that a plan has been formulated, but he has not visited the Southern Shores Town Council. The existing building will be demolished and a new 10,000 square foot building built. Construction estimate is $5,771,907. Dare’s share would be $4.45 million.

The EMS station in Manteo is due for renovation and a new addition with an estimated cost of $1,270,885.

The Frisco EMS building renovation and a small addition is estimated to cost $1,280,403.

The existing Dare MedFlight building would be demolished and a new 11,692 square foot building erected. The estimated cost is $4,102,026.

The Manns Harbor Volunteer Fire Department has been allocated $250,000 in order to lengthen bays.

Dare’s commissioners authorized Collier Oakley to begin drawings.

Dare’s commissioners approved the Dec. 6, 2021 consent agenda, which contained the following items:

– Social Services Division to budget the allocation for the one-time unrestricted payment to eligible young adults to assist them in meeting their needs during the pandemic. The amounts of the one-time unrestricted payments are as follows: Eligible young adults 18-20 = $2,500. Eligible young adults 21-26 = $5,000. Available for the program is $45,000.

– Public Health Division to budget $10,000 in increased funding for community linkages to care for overdose prevention and response.

– Public Health Division to budget continued COVID funding to cover part-time RNs and administrative staff hired for COVID activities and purchase supplies. State/Federal COVID funding is $255,271 and fees generated total $350,000.

– Dare County Sheriff to receive a Secure Schools grant totaling $34,360 from the Governor’s Crime Commission.

Dare’s commissioners appointed the following to the Dare County Tourism Board:

– Matt Ballog from the Dare County Restaurant Association

– Gary Berryman from the Outer Banks Association of Realtors

– Ivy Ingram from the Town of Kill Devil Hills

– Michael Siers from the Town of Nags Head

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