Door County Emergency Services is moving forward with plans to build a new mid-county ambulance station intended to significantly improve emergency response times for residents and visitors.

Officials discussed the proposal at a recent county board meeting, highlighting the need for better coverage in the central portion of the county, an area currently served only from stations at Brussels, Sister Bay, Washington Island and Sturgeon Bay.

Emergency Services Director Aaron LeClair said the project comes after extensive review.

“After quite a long bit of time in reviewing the need for a middle ambulance station, we  made a recommendation to build a new station, to build a stand-alone station in West Jacksonport,” LeClair said.

The proposed location is near the intersection of County Highways T and V between Jacksonport and Egg Harbor. LeClair said “the new site would help reduce long waits for ambulances in the middle of the peninsula”, where response times often exceed acceptable standards. A centrally located station could bring many calls within targeted service windows.

The department has already set aside approximately $1.9 million for the project, which is expected to cost about $2.3 million overall, with additional funding to be budgeted in coming years.

Before construction can begin, the county must approve moving forward with securing property for the site.

“On Tuesday, the 24th of February, the full County Board will take up a resolution to authorize me to start pursuing property in the area,” LeClair said.

LeClair noted the project has been discussed for more than a decade and emphasized that a centrally located station would strengthen the county’s emergency medical capabilities as call volumes continue to rise.