Half of the federal grant provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission will be used to provide naloxone — otherwise known as Narcan, which is used to reverse drug overdoses — to all police and fire departments within the county.

The other half of the grant will be used for several purposes including providing personnel from Williamson County’s mobile outreach team to be stationed at Round Rock Fire Station No. 6 at 2919 Joe DiMaggio Blvd.

Members of the team — which helps residents with mental health issues — will assist in drug-related emergency calls and other incidents involving behavioral issues.

The grant also funds coaches who provide help with people recovering from overdoses.

The vehicle was parked just outside the door with its lights on – displaying one of its useful emergency features. The vehicle arrived a week prior to the unveiling.

This new compact truck will save time, resources and maintenance costs, said Devin Pedersen, driver operator and paramedic for the Humble Fire Department. The emergency truck will also be used haul extra oxygen tanks and other additional supplies and equipment fire fighters may require in the field.

he new station will replace the existing facility, which was built in 1958.

Despite a number of improvements and additions to the station over the years, the township long ago outgrew both the lot and the 9,500-square-foot building, Pierzakowski said.

The new station offers several advantages over the existing facility, not the least of which is the ability to house the township’s growing fleet of emergency response vehicles using drive-thru bays.

Showers, sleeping quarters and meeting space have been included. The plan allows for an additional bay and more meeting space, if necessary, Pierzakowski said. Enough property is available to host outdoor events for the community or perhaps even a park. 

Voters approved a 4% hike in taxes, or an estimated $34 per year for an average single-family home. Officials say the increase will generate $155,000 in additional revenue for the district.

Recent purchases of an ambulance and tanker depleted $420,000 from reserves, according to the fire district. Planned future expenses exceed current reserves “three-fold,” the district says in its spring newsletter. Those planned purchases include an aerial ladder truck in 2018, pumper fire engine in 2019 and an ambulance in 2020. Maintenance of the district’s two firehouses is also planned, including paint and roof work and HVAC replacements.