Director of Paramedic Services in Grey County, Mike Muir, says Council may spend $517,000 to improve response times in the Township.

He says the two-bay facility is included in the 2017 draft budget, and -- if approved -- it'll be constructed at the County depot on Highway 10. According to Muir, the ambulance station in Owen Sound is currently servicing the City itself, Chatsworth and sections of Georgian Bluffs and Meaford -- and the distance increases response times for paramedics.

The structural work for the occupied building of the fire station is completely done, with just the interior finishing and painting remaining. The septic system is completed and has been signed off. Caltrans has hydroseeded the roadside entrance to the site and was on schedule to finish the asphalt work by the end of October.

By the time the apparatus building is delivered mid- to late November, he will have the concrete foundation poured, the asphalt done, the site hydroseeded and a sprinkler system installed. Once the building arrives, it should take another three to four weeks to build interior framing, create work areas, do finish work and paint.

Even though the occupied building will be ready in November, building codes will not allow anyone to move into the building until every aspect of the project is completed and has been approved.

"We would have had the project finished in time for Thanksgiving dinner if the building department hadn't held up the apparatus building permit so long," Prida said.

Nevertheless, he is thrilled that the construction should all be done before the winter rains start. That will help keep mud out of the project and maintain clean working conditions, as well prevent costly delays.

A break-in mid-October that resulted in the theft of a computer, iPhone, calculator and chop saw for cutting metal caused another minor setback.

The incident, which was reported to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, prompted the construction company to install an alarm and security system at the site.

The estimated completion cost of the station is $2.3 million, close to original projections, with only a few unforeseen costs. With a $1.5 million loan and $620,000 in the bank, the JCFPD Board voted to earmark $250,000 to cover any shortfall between now and completion of the station.

Fire Chief Rick Marinelli is hoping not to have to use all of the earmarked funds. The Julian Fireplugs are working to secure donations to furnish the building with office equipment and beds, while the Julian Volunteer Firefighter Association is committed to funding the purchase of new wardrobe closets and nightstands.

The project will involve installing a rain water collection system, disinfection system and a cistern for water storage and distribution. Native landscaping will be put in over part of an area maintained as a lawn, according to the city.

"The water collected will be used to wash fire trucks and irrigate the newly landscaped areas," a city report from September said.

Eden Prairie Environmental Coordinator Leslie Stovring said the idea originated with Fire Chief George Esbensen as a way to reduce lawn maintenance and conserve water. The city found out about a grant program from the Metropolitan Council and they added the cistern and the idea of fire truck washing as a unique purpose for a water reuse system.

The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District (RPBCWD) got involved in the discussion of the project when it had a meeting with the Metropolitan Council and the city on the potential of reducing groundwater usage and using rain water at fire stations, said Claire Bleser, watershed district administrator.

The project has been awarded two grants -- a $99,287 grant from the Metropolitan Council for the system and a $9,750 cost-share grant from the watershed district for a total grant award of $109,037, according to the city report.

"The total estimated project cost is $174,037. The city and RPBCWD will split the Metropolitan Council cost-share requirement, for approximately $20,000 each," the report said. "The city also has a cost-share requirement for the RPBCWD grant of $15,000. The total out-of-pocket cost is estimated at $35,000 for the city with an additional in-kind cost of $10,000."

Bleser said the watershed district partnered with the city to apply for the Met Council grant. The watershed district and city are splitting the 25 percent cost share requirement of the grant. According to the city, the watershed district is administering the grant and the design of the water reuse system.

The 1969 Ford F-1000 Super Cab will be outfitted with photos of firefighters who died on 9/11 and different compartments in the fire truck will feature different stories about what happened in New York City in 2001.

The truck will travel to schools and parades and eventually, it will make its way to New York.

"We're going to let their fire department, police department and EMS take a look at it," Mattingly said. "Sign it somewhere and be a part of it."

The truck was a gift from the Bokoshe Fire Department after the truck was taken out of service.

Interestingly, the fire truck the department uses now is a fire truck bought from New York City that was used during 9/11. Mattingly said it still had ash inside when they got it several years ago.

"The history of this and what we're trying to do with this former truck and how everything is intertwined, it's pretty neat," he said.