Ownership of Bainbridge EMS station still questioned

Though it sits on land owned by the Bainbridge Fire Department, the EMS station in Bainbridge was owned for years by Putnam County Operation Life (whose sign it still bears) and now the county since Putnam County EMS took over for Operation Life. However, fire department officials are questioning to whom the building belongs and what its future might be.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Revisiting an issue he first broached in January, Eric Gibson continued a discussion with the Putnam County Commissioners during their most recent meeting regarding the Putnam County EMS station on Bainbridge Fire Department property in Bainbridge.

The department owns the land, but the county (and before it, Putnam County Operation Life) owns the building.

Gibson, a lieutenant and secretary-treasurer for the department, again brought up a contract that was supposed to have been in place when OL built the structure about it reverting to the fire department if either the station sat vacant for more than a year or OL went out of business.

Both things have now happened at some point, though OL still technically exists as a fiscal entity even after its assets and duties were turned over to Putnam County EMS.

“So, what we would like is to approach the county about deeding that building to Bainbridge Fire Department, and we would lease that to Putnam County EMS each year,” Gibson said.

If this happened. Gibson said the fire department would be responsible for utilities and upkeep, to a certain point. That “certain point” might mean things such as splitting the cost of fixing a leaky roof.

“We want the ambulance service up there more than anybody because we see the need for it,” Gibson said. “We in no way want to kick you guys out.”

On the other hand, Gibson said he understood the county would at some point like to move the northern base of Putnam County EMS from Bainbridge to somewhere closer to the U.S. 36 and U.S. 231 junction.

When that time comes, he wants to make sure the station goes to the fire department.

EMS Chief Kelly Russ asked what interest the department has in the building.

“When our fire department was designed and built, I feel like it wasn’t designed for future use because we have no living quarters,” Gibson said. “In the event of inclement weather and we want to have staff on station ready should we want to keep someone on station. We don’t have any way to house those people.”

Part of the motivation for the discussion is that the department recently purchased a generator for backup power. It would like a more concrete arrangement with the county before running the power from the generator to the building.

Commissioner David Berry asked about keeping the building the possession of the county but signing a contract that says if Putnam County EMS leaves, it becomes the property of the Bainbridge Fire Department.

Gibson said he would have to take this proposal to the Walnut Creek Fire Protection District Board.

“There’s going to come a time in the near future when we’re going to have to sit down with the board and figure this out,” Commissioner Rick Woodall said. “We’ve got to do something to put this to bed.”