METS Ambulance Service holds groundbreaking for new hub - KOAM TV 7

METS Ambulance Service holds groundbreaking for new hub

Construction is about to begin on a second home for METS Ambulance Service.

Paramedics lined up behind area hospital leaders on Thursday as they turned the dirt for the new ambulance hub.

The property sits at 32nd and Ferguson Streets in Joplin.

METS Executive Director Jason Smith says it was a challenge to find the right spot.  It had to be located south of 32nd and north of Interstate 44 in the area served cooperatively by METS and Newton County ambulance.

The new apartment style station for crews is intended to help improve response times.

"We'll be able to better enhance our service because at this station we'll be able to have two ambulances," says Smith.  "Right now, with us being housed with Newton County we only have one ambulance METS related, you know, down in their station.  This will give us two ambulances on 32nd Street, good centralized location."

The property with a four bedroom dwelling and garages for the ambulances will cost METS about $160,000.

It's expected to be completed by December.