Meramec Ambulance District Community Update on Proposition A

To our Meramec Ambulance District community,

As you may know on March 14, 2025, approximately three weeks prior to election day, our EMS Station 2/Administration Building located in Villa Ridge sustained heavy damage from the tornado that moved through the area. We will forever be grateful that none of our crews were injured. However, the building was rendered uninhabitable, and our operations had to be relocated. As the saying goes, "buildings can be replaced, our people cannot."

Prior to the tornado, our plans for that location included using funds from Prop A to build a separate EMS station on the property the District owns adjacent to the east side of the property, and renovating the existing building as a dedicated administration, training and supply facility. After much consideration of the available options, the District's Board of Directors has decided to raze the existing structure that was damaged by the tornado and build a combination facility, rather than build and maintain two separate buildings.

The District has engaged Navigate Building Solutions (NBS) as their owner's representative for the upcoming construction projects. Navigate has assisted the District with facilitation of the selection process for the design and engineering team that will be used. The firm that has been selected is ArchImages, Inc. located in Kirkwood, Missouri. ArchImages has extensive experience with construction projects in the public sector, including specifically EMS and fire stations. The work has begun to move these projects forward; however, the activity is currently in the background and not readily visible to the public. 

In other Prop A news, the District has recently taken delivery of its first new ambulance since the passing of Prop A. Our ambulances take approximately three years to be delivered from the time the order is placed. Our crews have been patiently awaiting the delivery of this new ambulance; we are excited to get it ready to respond to calls for service in the coming weeks

and moving one of our ambulances with higher mileage to a backup status.

Additionally, a committee is being formed to assist in the evaluation and recommendation of new capital medical equipment purchases such as cardiac monitor/defibrillators and automated CPR devices. This new medical equipment will replace existing medical equipment that is at the end of service life ensuring our medical equipment is up-to-date and reliable when it matters most.

These construction projects, ambulance, and emergency medical equipment purchases are being made possible through the financial support of our community with the passage of Proposition A on April 8th. Once again, the District thanks the community for investing in the future of the ambulance district by ensuring it has the financial stability to continue providing exceptional emergency care to those in need.

With gratitude,

Taz Meyer, Chief

Meramec Ambulance District