And We did it without the Stimulus package!

[BULL321]

County Inks Deals so Sylva FD Can Expand

Jackson County

SYLVA - County officials agreed Monday night (Feb. 16) to move forward on expanding two fire departments.

Commissioners first tackled the ongoing issue of the Sylva Fire Department addition. That project was brought to county officials because the Local Government Commission requires Sylva to enter into an interlocal agreement with the county that would make the county responsible for repaying the $2.45 million loan the town is seeking from the LGC to expand the fire station. Commissioners approved that agreement unanimously.

County leaders had originally agreed to move forward with that agreement, but they requested additional discussion after Sylva officials found the cost of renovating the fire department would be higher than expected.

Town officials learned in December that adequate off-street parking wasn’t included in the original plans. Rectifying that increased the projected cost from $312,000 to potentially as high as $987,000 for 35 parking spaces. While the fire department received a zoning variance that requires only 16 spaces, the additional cost would still be around $400,000.

Though there is no set date for construction to begin, interim town Manager Chris Carter said two weeks ago the town would like to move forward and put the project out to bid while building prices are down.

The expansion would add more bays and a second floor to the existing station and give firefighters a larger meeting space, bunk/office space and a semi-commercial kitchen.

Under the agreement, commissioners will be responsible for two payments of $106,000 per fiscal year to the LGC.

Commissioners then considered expanding the Cullowhee Fire Department and unanimously agreed to sign a letter asking Western Carolina University to swap land with the county.

This came after a request from Cullowhee Fire Chief Richard Frady, who brought plans for his department’s expansion to commissioners during a budget work session last Thursday (Feb. 12).

Frady said WCU owns the 2.8 acres beside the current fire station that’s needed for the expansion. To get the deed to that land and move forward with seeking grants for the expansion, Frady proposed swapping 3.3 acres behind the fire station for it.

However, that 3.3-acre parcel includes Cullowhee’s staffed recycling center. Frady said if the land swap is negotiated, the SRC would have to be moved by the time construction on the fire department expansion begins.

“That’s something I think would have to be done anyway,” Frady said Thursday. “We’ve been looking at using that road as a way out for our trucks since the expansion will add several through-bays at the department.”

WCU has expressed an interest in the land, Frady said, and suggested moving the SRC to a county-owned site off N.C. 107 just before it intersects with Old Cullowhee Road going towards Tuckasegee.

Discussing the agreement Monday night, county Manager Ken Westmoreland said there was no estimate of how much moving the SRC would cost.

“The biggest expense would be site work,” he said. “All of the equipment is leased from Garbage Disposal Services.”

As for the letter itself, Westmoreland said it would only be to get the item on the agenda for WCU’s March 13 board of trustees meeting. Should that body decide to move forward with the agreement, it will take a good bit of time for deeds for the two parcels to be swapped, he said.

“This process will probably take up to a year,” Westmoreland said. “However, it can be cancelled any time by either party up to the point where the land is actually transferred.”

Primary Agency: Sylva Fire Department

Source: Sylva Herald

[Dickey]

Congrats.

At least some places are not affected by the economy.

[tms122]

Meanwhile departments where stuff actually happens are laying off and closing companies, see Philadelphia, New Bedford, Springfield and inevitably Boston.

[GTRider245]

Meanwhile departments where stuff actually happens are laying off and closing companies, see Philadelphia, New Bedford, Springfield and inevitably Boston.

Who are you to make such a statement? Where stuff actualy happens? What a tool...

[ActionGoose]

Meanwhile departments where stuff actually happens are laying off and closing companies, see Philadelphia, New Bedford, Springfield and inevitably Boston.

Wow, how empathetic you are. Perhaps you should go tell the citizens of his community that the money would be better spent in places where emergencies actually happen, and to put their own fires our and do CPR on themselves.

[tms122]

I never said that. I just find it tragic in general that some major urban departments already short staffed and over-burdened from previous cuts are getting the short end of the stick yet again while a department in the boondock Carolina hills can expand in this economic climate. As he said though, at least they didn't utliize federal monies.

[rpferry]

I never said that. I just find it tragic in general that some major urban departments already short staffed and over-burdened from previous cuts are getting the short end of the stick yet again while a department in the boondock Carolina hills can expand in this economic climate. As he said though, at least they didn't utliize federal monies.

Where do you work?

[ActionGoose]

I never said that. I just find it tragic in general that some major urban departments already short staffed and over-burdened from previous cuts are getting the short end of the stick yet again while a department in the boondock Carolina hills can expand in this economic climate. As he said though, at least they didn't utliize federal monies.

It's tragic if an urban department has budgetary issues, but it's fine if a suburban or rural one does?

[GTRider245]

It's not tragic at all. Some of those bigger urban cities need to take heed and learn from the smaller communities who know how to properly allocate and manage the funds they have to work with.

I give Sylva props for a step like this, which in a small town is a big one.

[hwoods]

I never said that. I just find it tragic in general that some major urban departments already short staffed and over-burdened from previous cuts are getting the short end of the stick yet again while a department in the boondock Carolina hills can expand in this economic climate. As he said though, at least they didn't utliize federal monies.

What's tragic is that our Brothers and Sisters in the BLIGHTED URBAN AREAS have to put up with the worst collection of elected officials that there is in this Country. The folks in "The Boondock Carolina Hills" (which is a description that is certainly wrong) have their act together and get things done, AND the people who were elected to run the Government have their priorities straight. Any Big City could be Hiring, Buying Apparatus, and Building New Stations, IF they can get the Crooks out of Office. Regardless, Urban Problems are no excuse for looking down at someplace that is doing OK because they WORK for what they get.


Bull - Good Job, Bro.

[Dickey]

You know, I just thought of something.............

All this talk about a stimulus package and the economy and stuff....


I'm wondering if President Obama is using the same desk to write his stimulus package where President Clinton got his package stimulated???

[hwoods]

You know, I just thought of something.............

All this talk about a stimulus package and the economy and stuff....


I'm wondering if President Obama is using the same desk to write his stimulus package where President Clinton got his package stimulated???

I'm applying for a large Grant to study that. You want in??......

[Dickey]

I'm applying for a large Grant to study that. You want in??......

I might as well, my department got denied for all the other grants we applied for.

I'm all in.
(no pun intended....sort of)

[Frosty42]

I never said that. I just find it tragic in general that some major urban departments already short staffed and over-burdened from previous cuts are getting the short end of the stick yet again while a department in the boondock Carolina hills can expand in this economic climate. As he said though, at least they didn't utliize federal monies.

It is the majority of the suburban and rural departments which are under-staffed and have had the need to expand for the last 10 years so if the "boondock" department now has the ability to catch up then good for them. What is tragic is YOUR inability to understand the modern fire service and how reductions in workforce and budget cuts affects everyone, not just one urban department or another. We are all in this together and regardless of where the funds come from, this minor improvement to a smaller department is a victory for all of us.

[BULL321]

What's tragic is that our Brothers and Sisters in the BLIGHTED URBAN AREAS have to put up with the worst collection of elected officials that there is in this Country. The folks in "The Boondock Carolina Hills" (which is a description that is certainly wrong) have their act together and get things done, AND the people who were elected to run the Government have their priorities straight. Any Big City could be Hiring, Buying Apparatus, and Building New Stations, IF they can get the Crooks out of Office. Regardless, Urban Problems are no excuse for looking down at someplace that is doing OK because they WORK for what they get.


Bull - Good Job, Bro.

Harve,

Thanks you and the rest of the guys for your support. We (the Sylva Fire Dept.) have been around since 1899 and at one time we were the only fire dept. in a county that is around 600 sq. miles. Over the years the communty has added 6 more vollie depts throughout the county to provide service to our family, friends, neighbors and guest. We have come a long way from the early days when a fire call went out and everyone grabbed their bucket and a ladder and rushed to their neighbors aid. While the technology has changed the spirit of the fire service has stayed the same. The above mention addition, is another step in the progression of our dept. With the addition of four more bays we will be able to house a ladder truck, along being able to provide space for the rescue squad to house one of their trucks and still have space for an ambulance if needed. The upstairs of the building will give us a room to house up to 8 FF and will have the much needed space for a larger meeting room and kitchen. In plainning for this building (which we have been working on for the past ten years) we have tried to plan for the future. To be able to provide an adequate building for those that will come after we are gone. It is an exciting time for us, but we recognize that there are many depts. that are not as fortunate as we are and are thankful to the community for its contiue support of our fire dept.

Stay Safe
Bull

[Firefighter2160]

What's tragic is that our Brothers and Sisters in the BLIGHTED URBAN AREAS have to put up with the worst collection of elected officials that there is in this Country. The folks in "The Boondock Carolina Hills" (which is a description that is certainly wrong) have their act together and get things done, AND the people who were elected to run the Government have their priorities straight. Any Big City could be Hiring, Buying Apparatus, and Building New Stations, IF they can get the Crooks out of Office. Regardless, Urban Problems are no excuse for looking down at someplace that is doing OK because they WORK for what they get.


Bull - Good Job, Bro.

I could not have said it better my self congrats and good luck guys

[doughesson]

I'm applying for a large Grant to study that. You want in??......

No,thanks.For some strange reason,I think that I have enough porn.It could be the onset of maturity,I don't know.
If a department or city can improve the infrastructure without going to Uncle sam with their hats in hand,more power to them
The Federal government was not originally designed to be the go to source of money when street repairs or new equipment is needed.
Living in a city where the mayor stands to gain if a new Greyhound bus station is built,I want to see crooks barred from elected office.They just prevent the money that the city does have from getting to where it is more badly needed.

[preyn2]

The Austin (TX) Fire Dept is about to revert to three-person staffing to save $200K (two-hundred thousand dollars) while the City buys $8,000,000 worth of new parking meters and $250,000,000,000 (no typo - a quarter billion dollars) worth of solar electric facility from a Chinese vendor. That's life in the Big City. The people who vote and the people who write letters get what they want.

If Sylva FD can get improvements that are probably years overdue anyway, then a hearty congratulations and keep up the good work.

stay safe - thum

PS - edited because i spelled "typo" incorrectly...lol

[GTRider245]

Might what to edit again- $250,000,000,000 = two hundred and fifty billion, not million

[Dickey]

This deal for development of the land near a new highway in my city has solved most of the city's financial woes for a while now.

http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-...id=BJEJ19MRITG

The mistake they made was to spend the money they didn't have from development of this land. Now that it was sold, we are back in the black. This kind of thing is rare to most towns and cities but for us, we ok at least for now.