Earlier this year, county commissioners agreed to purchase one-third of an acre next to the Valley View Volunteer Fire Department on South Pecan Creek Trail for $17,000 to build an EMS substation in the southern part of the county. It would house a new ambulance and reduce response times in the area.

A representative with Sanger-based EIKON Consulting Group, LLC said the cost of construction is on the rise.

Cooke County Judge Jason Brinkley said the original cost of the proposal was around $450,000.

Renovations cost about $75,000, he said. The community donated $25,000, and the station was able to raise about $20,000 more and took out a loan for the last $30,000, Wilson said. The entire station was renovated, and 1,800 square feet of space was added, Wilson said. There is more room for equipment, training and offices. The station is located at 3410 Hilltop Road in Oak Trail Shores.

The $3.4 million renovation project started in May 2016 and was completed in March 2017. The station is at 2530 Edgcumbe Road.

Saturday’s open house will allow the community to see the expanded station, meet firefighters and paramedics, make a first aid kit and watch a kitchen fire-safety demonstration, among other activities.

After the crash, the fire truck was taken to Spencer Manufacturing, which originally built the truck. Repair estimates came in at more than $39,000; the crash prompted the department to look at future maintenance of the truck.

However, the $372,000 in the fire vehicle replacement fund is not enough to cover replacement.

Because of those factors, the public safety department proposed replacing the chassis and refurbishing the body of the truck. A new chassis will consist of a new cab, engine, transmission, frame, suspension, axles and wheels, among other things.

The city had enough money in house to buy the replacement pumper. A second pumper and an aerial ladder truck, also replacements, have been purchased with funds voters agreed in April to provide, Kushner said.

The city placed the order for the voter-backed replacement vehicles about a week ago. They are expected to arrive in August.