Groundbreaking at future site of Mid-Mo Ambulance

May 25, 2016 at 4:00 a.m. | Updated May 25, 2016 at 1:17 a.m.

by Lucie Willsie

The groundbreaking Wednesday for the new Mid-Mo Ambulance base in the southern part of the city of California included, from left: Jonathan Leinbach, president of Excel Metal Roofing; Lee Kempf, administrator for Mid-Mo Ambulance; David Leinbach, sales manager for Excel Metal Roofing; Earl Reuter, board president for Mid-Mo Ambulance; Brandon Garber, assistant vice president for Commerce Bank; Bill Roll, EMT for Mid-Mo Ambulance; Brad Stuedle, board member from Moniteau County; Becky Holloway, board treasurer; and Brenda Lapp, a board member for Mid-Mo Ambulance.
The groundbreaking Wednesday for the new Mid-Mo Ambulance base in the southern part of the city of California included, from left: Jonathan Leinbach, president of Excel Metal Roofing; Lee Kempf, administrator for Mid-Mo Ambulance; David Leinbach, sales manager for Excel Metal Roofing; Earl Reuter, board president for Mid-Mo Ambulance; Brandon Garber, assistant vice president for Commerce Bank; Bill Roll, EMT for Mid-Mo Ambulance; Brad Stuedle, board member from Moniteau County; Becky Holloway, board treasurer; and Brenda Lapp, a board member for Mid-Mo Ambulance.

The skies were bright and sunny.

The temps not too hot and not too cold.

And the anticipation for the new Mid-Mo Ambulance base was extremely positive.

"We're breaking ground on a new ambulance base," said Lee Kempf, administrator for Mid-Mo Ambulance. The old base located in an old converted gas station was outdated and only had two bays. The new base will have three bays. "And the garages are larger so the ambulances will fit better."

Mid-Mo has bases in Tipton, Barnett, Versailles, in addition to California, and a small smaller base im Ivy Bend.

"We like the new California location," Kempf said, "because it's right on the edge of town. We'll have better access to the west side of town and south side of the tracks where the majority of calls come from. The train tracks won't be in the way."

Excel Metal Roofing has been contracted to build the new base, which is estimated to be completed in about 4 months, according to Jonathan Leinvach, president of Excel Metal Roofing.