BERNARDSTON — Valley Concrete & Construction opened its doors for Northfield residents on Saturday afternoon, giving them an opportunity to explore the space before they vote on whether to pursue acquiring it as a new home for Northfield EMS.

Over the last 12 years, there have been three proposals to help Northfield EMS move into a new, larger space, including a $13.5 million public safety complex that was voted down by residents in May 2023. Now, Northfield EMS Chief Matt Wolkenbreit and Northfield Selectboard member Barbara “Bee” Jacque believe they found their “unicorn” at 546 Northfield Road (Route 10) in Bernardston.

The current EMS station at 41 Main St. in Northfield, a converted gas station from 1960, spans 1,488 square feet with a lot size of 13,068 square feet. The station fits two ambulances, each special ordered in a smaller size to fit inside the garage, prompting Northfield EMS to store its third ambulance at Erving’s Fire Station, according to Northfield EMS Deputy Chief Camron Kennedy.

By comparison, the proposed 15,680-square-foot-facility in Bernardston on just over 3 acres of land would fit three ambulances of standard size in the first heated garage, with extra space for Highway Department vehicles in the second garage.

In between the garages stands a two-story building with three bathrooms and enough space for bunks, multiple offices, a kitchen, a training room and storage, an upgrade from the current station’s half bath and couch for overnight officers. During Zoom meetings, “All of the other EMS agencies in the area are sitting in their big training rooms with their chairs and everything,” Kennedy noticed. “Here, we’re all huddled on the couch.”

He said expanding the size of the Northfield EMS station would also mean expanding its capabilities. With more room, Northfield EMS would be able to train high school students and future EMT medics on site while running community education for CPR and first aid. Currently, Kennedy and his fellow instructors host these classes at the Senior Center, creating a hassle for loading equipment into vehicles.

“Rather than us going to them, we can have them come here,” he said.

Jacque even anticipates extra space for a Recreation Commission office with record storage.

“The fact that we can do multi-purpose I think is a really good benefit,” she said. “It really leaves us with some potential growth.”

The proposed location also sits in the center of Northfield EMS’ coverage area as a department also serving Bernardston, Erving and Gill.

“When you look at where all the calls are in the area, this is right in the middle,” Jacque explained.

Kennedy said the new space for a 24-hour crew and all three ambulances in the center of their service area will cut response times, especially for crashes on Route 10 and nearby Interstate 91.

“We’ll have people in the building ready to move the truck,” Kennedy said.

Although maintenance costs would remain the same despite the expansion due to the proposed building’s energy-efficient solar power, total costs would differ.

For more than 10 years, it has cost $900 per month, plus annual property taxes, to rent the Northfield facility from The Sandri Companies. This agreement, which equals $12,989 per year, is set to expire in June 2025.

By comparison, the Bernardston site would cost $10,478 per year through a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to Bernardston. According to Wolkenbreit, Northfield would pay the PILOT to Bernardston considering the property would still be considered Bernardston acreage.

Next steps

Northfield residents will vote on whether to move forward with the process during a Special Town Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m at Pioneer Valley Regional School.

During this meeting, voters will consider Articles 4 and 5 that, with a two-thirds majority vote, would allow Northfield EMS to start the process of buying and moving into the Valley Concrete & Construction property.

To break it down, Article 4 is to approve using $2.1 million to acquire and outfit the property, transforming it from a concrete production company to an ambulance company, Jacque told attendees at an information session on the six-article Special Town Meeting warrant held last week.

The $2.1 million would come from money the town has put aside over the past few years for capital and building expenses. This includes $312,012 from the Sale of Cell Tower Easement Account, nearly $1.11 million from the Emergency Services Building Account and $680,479 from the Capital Stabilization Fund. The town would incur no debt and there would be no impact on property taxes.

“We’re not gonna bleed out money for the emergency services but we’re going to use some of these ... to offset the cost,” Finance Committee Chair Dan Campbell said at the information session. “There’s no taxpayer impact for this going down the road.”

Article 5 permits the Selectboard to petition the state Legislature to allow Northfield to buy property in its neighboring town.

“Our representatives have already said that they are behind us,” Wolkenbreit said. “They’re going to advocate for us and try to move it through. If we have enough community support behind us, there’s no reason it should be contested, hopefully.”

From there, the town would finalize the purchase and sale agreement with Valley Concrete & Construction before the company relocates.

“What we’ve been told is that they’re ready to start working as we’re ready,” Wolkenbreit said. “So if we get the vote in November, they’ll do more on their end just as we’ll do more on our end so that we can try to line up the readiness, the timelines, as quick as we can,” a possibility he does not anticipate will be a problem since “they’ve been amazing partners.”

After permits and state inspections, Wolkenbreit said the building will only require “fit and finish” changes, such as installing a washer, dryer, kitchen table, beds, lockers for their uniforms and cabinetry. Of the total $2.1 million on the Town Meeting warrant, $100,000 would go toward these changes, he clarified.

With the logistics set, Wolkenbreit said the move from Main Street in Northfield would only take a few days.

“The actual move will be a matter of picking up what we have in our small building and moving it over here,” he said. “I don’t anticipate a long delay.”

Wolkenbreit hopes for a move by the end of June, when Northfield EMS’ current lease will expire, without any major hiccups.

Looking ahead to November’s meeting, Wolkenbreit said he is “nervous,” but ultimately “optimistic and hopeful,” like Jacque.

“I’m really excited,” Jacque stated. “I’m not counting my chickens before they hatch, so to speak, because the town still needs to vote on it.”