There is an opportunity for the North East Mobile Health Services to purchase the tannery lot to build an ambulance building.  There is a vote this Tuesday evening as to whether or not the town should go ahead with the purchase and are looking for local opinions.  As we all have seen in the local news there are several people in opposition of this sale but not many people are speaking up in favor of this.  I understand this is hard for the people who reside right next to this property, but that has been a "commercial lot" for longer than most of us have lived here and there is going to be a business there again, to me this sounds like a good one.  I don't know that any "business" will ever meet the approval of everyone, but this one seems to have a great benefit to the town as a whole.  I just wanted list some reasons why I think it would be a good thing since we have seen opinions against.  

This location is more centrally located than the current location of North East, which means a faster response times.  This location is closer to our high school, elementary school, middle school and the Snow Bowl. Travel time:

                                                   current        time    from new location

To the snow bowl:                       11 minutes      vs.      6 minutes

To the middle school :          10 minutes      vs.      2 minutes

To Camden Hills State Park:     11 minutes      vs.      6 minutes

To CRHS:                                10 minutes      vs.      7 minutes

These times don't seem like that much, but when you are injured or your child is injured minutes seem like hours.

 A concern for some is that this would be a noise disturbance and a safety concern but what may not be known is that an emergency vehicle "shall sound a bell or siren when reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other operators of the emergency vehicle's approach", not all the time.  Emergency vehicles are also required by law "to drive with due regard for safety."  These facts can be checked here.

This purchase will bring jobs and revenue to our community.  No business is going to be ideal for everyone but I see this as a great opportunity for our community but it may not happen if they do not hear from community members in favor of this sale.  This lot has sat empty for more than 13 years and has cost our town $800,000.  For the past five-plus years they have tried to find a buyer and now Maine's largest ambulance service is hoping to build a new site here in Camden and they need our support to see this through.  Send an email or contact the town selectmen before the meeting Aug. 26, Tuesday evening.

Read more about the Tannery Proposal.

Find out more about North East Health Services  

 Christine Nathan lives in Camden.