Vinton County Commissioners Address Stalled EMS Conversion, Airport Issues

The $693,000 conversion of the former Vinton County Road Garage at 200 Walnut Street into the county's new EMS station remained unresolved at the commissioners' March 31 meeting in McArthur, with contractor Steelial Construction and Metal Fabrication and the project engineer still working to finalize change-order figures before the board can take its next formal step.

County Development Director Terri Fetherolf briefed commissioners Kevin Cozad and Tim Eberts on the project's status, telling the board that Steelial and the engineer had not yet submitted finalized change-order documentation. Until those numbers are locked in, commissioners cannot vote to amend the construction contract or set a revised project budget.

The Walnut Street conversion has cycled in and out of active construction since late 2025. Work paused after state-required design changes surfaced during the project, forcing Steelial and the project team to revise plans to meet code and regulatory standards before restarting. Commissioners have said publicly they remain committed to seeing the conversion through despite the cost increases and timeline slippage. Once complete, the new station will replace the county's existing EMS quarters on State Route 93, consolidating operations into a purpose-upgraded building in McArthur. Steelial, which operates near Wilkesville, was the original contractor on the renovation.

Airport-related items also came before the board at the March 31 session, along with routine county facility maintenance including power washing. County Clerk Cathi Mountjoy was also present.

The next formal action hinges on Steelial and the project engineer delivering finalized change-order figures. Once that documentation is in hand, commissioners will schedule a vote at a future public meeting, setting a new cost ceiling for the project and bringing the Walnut Street EMS station's opening timeline into clearer focus.