QRU building moving forward

The Lakeside Quick Response Unit is working to get its new ambulance hall and community meeting place secured for the winter.

Work has been ongoing on the facility since this spring. Building a hall has been a goal of the QRU for many years and a 2-acre property to build on was donated by Lakeside residents Al and Cora Luna last December.

The project is on schedule thus far, but funds are quickly running out, QRU President Steve Rosso said. The goal is to get the building, located west of the Lakeside Fire Hall on Bills Road, closed up before winter hits.

Originally, it was hoped that the QRU would be able to move its operations from the Lakeside Fire Hall into a partially completed building this fall.

"We've got a good start," Rosso said. "We won't be able to move in this winter unless we get more help this fall."

One of the reasons funds are running out has to do with the site itself. Soon after work began, it was determined that the soils, which had been used to fill in an old swamp on the property, could not support the new structure. New materials had to be brought in to create a good base for the building.

Some of the extra expense for the facility also comes from the fact that it is being built to serve as an "essential facility," meaning that it's being built to withstand a natural disaster so that it could remain operational.

Mostly what needs to be done before winter is installing the doors on the building, but the facility needs electricity first so that it can be moved off temporary power and so the overhead doors for the garage can be put in place. Work on the roof is also finishing up.

When complete, the two-story building will include three ambulance bays, a main office for staff, a 182-seat meeting room, a serving kitchen, an exercise area and living quarters. Due to how tall the building needs to be for the ambulance garage, the QRU will have room to expand on a second floor above the main floor. For now, the rough plumbing for a bathroom has been put in for future build out.

The goal of the building is to provide a long-term structure for the area as well as the ability to expand emergency medical services in the growing community. Lakeside's QRU serves an expansive area stretching from southwest Flathead County through northwest Lake County and has already been outgrowing its shared space with the Somers-Lakeside Fire Department. Living quarters will allow for overnight accommodations for staff when the QRU has to go to 24-hour response. As Rosso sees it, Lakeside will be a key population point for providing services, both for Lake and Flathead counties.

"We're looking forward to this building being here for a lot of years and being able to provide service in a lot of ways," Rosso said.

The plan is for parts of the building to be completed as funds are available and in order of priority. First up will be the garage and office work area, so that the QRU can move out of the fire hall down the road. That will be followed by the public meeting space.

The QRU has invested funds into the building up to this point from funds it has saved up over the years, but it needs to keep some money set aside for possible ambulance repairs and replacement.

"That way we can continue with our service," Rosso said of saving some of the funds. "We have invested a sizable amount and expect to continue to."

Volunteer work is just as important for the building as donated funds, Rosso said. And many local suppliers have helped by offering discounts on materials.

"We're getting a lot for our money here," Rosso said.

Donations can be mailed to the Lakeside QRU, PO Box 911, Lakeside, MT 59922. For more information, call 844-2775.