The fire department was able to purchase the truck for $264,625 with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds.

The old truck will go into reserve, according to officials. The new truck is specially equipped to better handle medical calls, which the fire department regularly responds to, especially out in the county where it may take longer for an ambulance to arrive.

“Between 75 and 80 percent of our calls are medical related,” said Chief Dennis Knight.

Department representatives pointed out that the new truck could potentially save the department money longterm due to increased fuel efficiency.

"Sign1 helps us out getting the truck wrapped. Now we're going to start going to events so people can have the opportunity to sign on the truck a family member, 'I survived,' that type stuff -- get the word out there," Randy King, the deputy chief, said.

The fire department is also raising funds to provide free mammograms for those in need.

Vern Grindstaff, chair of the Mitchell Board of Commission, thanked Mission Health for its relationship with the county while also thanking the EMS staff for the job they do.

“I personally believe we have world-class paramedics working for Mitchell County EMS,” he said.

The new facility is part office and part home. It includes four bedrooms – each with a television – a full kitchen and living area with a large a flat-screen TV. 

There is a locker room with showers and a laundry room with a washer and dryer. 

The building has three garage bays, offices, a reception area and a training room. The county’s EMS team has 14 full-time paramedics, a director, assistant director and a receptionist.

In his remarks, Grindstaff urged voters to support the ballot referendum in the upcoming election that, if approved, would increase the county’s sales tax from 6.75 percent to 7 percent. The extra revenue would fund a third ambulance to operate in the county.  

"We only have eight volunteers right now," EMS Administrator Tammy Riley said. "Our board president is in the process of getting a class approved through Department of State Health Services so we can get a basic class and get more volunteers."

Before the opening of the new facility, crews stored their equipment inside small cabinets and housed their ambulances in three different locations.

"We have always had the garage that held the ambulances behind our hospital," Riley said. "Our office was up town and now we are able to be housed in one office here."

The 32,000 square foot building is providing enough space for three ambulances, an office, a classroom, one bedroom, kitchen and a climate control closet.

Riley said this year Texas passed a new regulation for the storage of EMS medication....a regulation which Wellington couldn't comply with.

"In our other facility we did not have the climate control that we needed, now we have air conditioning and heating so we are in compliance with the state now."