Council approves new QRU building

The new Lakeside QRU building is inching closer to construction as members seek a conditional use permit that will allow the quasi-public building to be constructed.

The Lakeside Community Council gave its recommendation for approval of the permit last week and it was scheduled to be before the Flathead County Board of Adjustment on Tuesday.

The new building will be located on two donated acres of property on the north side of Bill's Road, just up the street from the current fire hall.

"There were very few issues," said county planner Alex Hogle, who noted that the 13 conditions in the county staff report were "fairly standard and typical."

These include acquiring the approaches with Flathead County Roads and Bridges, using applicable connections with the Lakeside Water and Sewer District and dealing with stormwater on site.

The building is also designed to serve as a community meeting center, which has been a need in the area, Hogle said. It does appear to be ADA accessible, he said.

"It really looks like a solid project," Hogle said.

QRU President Steve Rosso said a stormwater management plan was already approved by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality before the ownership of the property was transferred.

The Lakeside QRU, though based in Lakeside, services from South Kalispell over east to near the S-turns on Montana Highway 82 toward Bigfork and south almost to Dayton. The department has 23 EMTs on its roster, with a dozen who respond regularly, Rosso said.

In terms of equipment, the QRU currently has one ambulance as well as an aid car with emergency medical equipment kept in the lower Valley to respond quickly.

The new two-story QRU building will include three ambulance bays, a main office, storage, a serving kitchen, an exercise area, living quarters, public bathrooms and a 182-seat meeting room with five wheelchair spots.

"We're looking at the inevitable future when we may need to have people stay at the hall 24-7," Rosso said.

That's part of the push for the new building — and a building of its own.

The QRU has been sharing space with the Somers-Lakeside Volunteer Fire Department. It received the donated land for its new facilities from residents Al and Cora Luna in 2009.

In 2009, the QRU responded to 229 calls and treated 268 patients. That worked out to an average of 24 calls in each of the three summer months and 17 each month the rest of the year.

Outdoors, the QRU designs call for a 42-spot parking lot and an ALERT helicopter helipad. The facilities will have two approaches off Bill's Road — one for the ambulance bays and another back to the parking lot and helipad, with the possibility of it being extended all the way to Bierney Creek Road in the future, with the cooperation of the property owner on the other side.

The ALERT helicopter services were only needed about 20 times last year, so it will likely not be using the helipad frequently, Rosso said.

"It's not intended to have any other use at all," Rosso said of the helipad.

Rosso is managing a group of local contractors to do the work on the project, which will be completed in phases as funding is available.

"We're trying to keep this local," Rosso said.

The permit will grant construction for a year, but has the possibility of an extension for a second year. Rosso said the QRU will likely be seeking a second year.

"The community needs to expect there will be construction during the entire two-year period," Rosso said.

To save on expense, Rosso said there have been discussions of using a turf or sod on the helipad initially instead of pavement. That would also mitigate dust concerns.

Fencing around the area would likely be only a 3-foot chain link fence to keep out animals and keep children from running through, he said. The fire department is usually dispatched to manage the landing site to add safety when the helicopter comes in.

Council member Gregg Schoh recommended the QRU consider a hedge row in addition to fencing to mitigate sound and provide aesthetics along the side of the property, as it is surrounded by residences.

Rosso said he would take a look at the regulations and the possibility of the hedge.

"I think this is a tremendous thing," Schoh said.

The council voted unanimously to recommend approval of the permit. Member Mike Wilson recused himself from the vote, as he has been involved in the project.