3/8/11 - The Livingston County Board of Commissioners is moving forward with the construction of a new EMS headquarters that would include a lease agreement with University of Michigan Survival Flight. The site is on Tooley Road, just north of M-59, on the other side of the Livingston County Airport. The board approved a number of resolutions tied to the construction of the new complex. It hired a contractor and architecture firm while also authorizing preliminary site work and the removal two barns and a house on the property. One barn will likely be salvaged and moved by an interested party. EMS Director Jeff Boyd tells WHMI the complex will serve as a joint training center for police, fire, EMS and Survival flight. The county and EMS will own the public safety complex while the University of Michigan will be leasing space from them. Boyd says EMS has run out of space just as the helicopter service has and the there will be a taxiway at the new facility that attaches to the airport taxiway. The final points of the lease with the University of Michigan are still being negotiated. Boyd says they’re looking to issue bonds for the project that would not exceed $8.5 million, most likely over the course of 20 years. He says the bonding and other items will be worked out between now and June with construction commencing by late summer. Commissioner Dave Domas voted against the resolutions. He told WHMI that with the economy and special assessment obligations, he didn’t feel it was a wise business decision. (JM)