After a long history of local businesses coordinating fundraisers to support local EMS and volunteer fire departments, a group of dedicated citizens looked into creating an Emergency Service District. This district would maintain the funding sources and oversight for future Fire and EMS services for the Mico, Castroville, and LaCoste areas. The proposition was put before the voters on May 1, 1993 in an election and passed. On May 10th, with the signing of a resolution the Medina County Emergency Services District #1 was created. A five-member board was appointed by the County Commissioner’s Court, and the first official meeting was held June 30, 1993.
For many years the funding from property taxes collected by the district was paid to contracted services providers; Castroville Volunteer Fire Department, LaCoste Volunteer Fire Department, Mico Volunteer Fire Department, Medina Lake Volunteer Fire Department, and Medina Valley EMS to provide the maintenance and operations of fire and emergency medical services on behalf of the District. The Medina County Emergency Services District also used these funds to provide capital outlay district wide for replacement fire apparatus, ambulances, and station maintenance.
In 2008 the District performed an internal review of its master planning goals and station needs. The research showed that the District would not be able to sustain its operational needs with just property tax to keep up with the growing operational demands of the District.
In 2015, the District held an election to allow for the collection of sales and use tax to supplement the district’s revenue. The election passed, and once a steady flow of funding became available, the district has grown every year since. These additional revenues allow the District to move forward with its master plan and implementing new stations to meet the future demands of the District.
A short list of MCESD#1 milestones include:
1998 - LaCoste Helipad
2003 – The Castroville station #10 was built.
2004 - The District added full-time, paid EMS and 2 ambulances with a contract with Medina Valley EMS
2009 - Brand new engines were purchased for Castroville, LaCoste, and Mico station locations
2012 – New station #12 was built at the Mico location
2016 – An EMS unit, a 24 hour crew, and living quarters were added to the Mico station #12 location.
13 Oct 2021 – The District hired its first Career Fire Chief
Nov 2021- Station 15 was placed in service with all Volunteer staffing serving the Rio Medina and Potranco Rd communities
11 March 2022- Medic 8115 was placed in service 24hrs a day in Rio Medina
1 May 2022- The District consolodated the three Volunteer Fire Departments into one Agency known at Medina County ESD 1 Fire/EMS
13 June 2022 - The District added 4 Career Firefighters on duty per day to staff during peak hours of 0600-1800 to supplement our dedicated volunteers split between Station 10 Castroville and 15 Rio Medina.
8 December 2022- The District added 2 Full-time Career Lieutenants per day to switch from peak time staff to 24hr a day staffing with two personnel at each station.
27 February 2023- The District conducted an initial regrade of the ISO Score for the District obtaining a Class 4 in the Cities of La Coste and Castroville and Class 5 in all unicorporated areas within 5 road miles of Stations in Castroville, Rio Medina and La Coste. There is no hydrant requirement, saving taxpayes significantly on their home insurance premiums. This was an improvement from a Class 7 in Castroville, Class 5 in La Coste and Class 9 for all properties in the unicorporated areas and within 5 road miles of Stations in Castroville and La Coste.
To keep pace with the development in the area, MCESD#1 is continuing to implement and adjust its master plan to ensure our citizens are provided with the highest level of Fire & EMS available with the funding provided.
