Jan. 06--The department recently finalized a deal to purchase 17.5 acres of land off N.C. Highway 47 to relocate the station to the center of its district. The South Lexington VFD acquired the land for $100,000 from siblings Bill Parks, Donna Wheeler and Keith Parks. Fire officials also previously signed with a bank to obtain a $1,135,000 loan to build a 9,700-square-foot station and purchase the land.
John Pate, South Lexington VFD's assistant chief, explained his department hopes the land will be graded in the next few weeks if weather permits. The goal is for the building to be completed and ready for firefighters by August. The station will be located across the street from Doe Run Court off of N.C. Highway 47.
Bill Parks said the land deal between the department and his family was a smooth process. He said his family was approached by the South Lexington VFD officials regarding the land. Parks said the South Lexington VFD also has agreed to put up a berm between the station and an adjacent residence.
The South Lexington VFD is located at 2000 Cotton Grove Road. The new station will give firefighters more space for its firefighters and their equipment. The current location, which has about 5,500 square feet, does not have a sprinkler system, meaning firefighters cannot stay there overnight. South Lexington VFD is planning on having a sprinkler system in the new station and has set a short-term goal to put firefighters there at night once the structure is built.
South Lexington Fire Chief Darren Kirkus has said the site of the department's station was previously annexed into the City of Lexington. He said the South Lexington VFD will now have all of Old Mountain Road in its fire district once the new station is built. The department services all of Old Mountain Road. However, with some of the road's residents out of the department's fire district, they pay extra for fire insurance. Kirkus said the department's district for insurance purposes only went out six miles. The insurance rates for the Old Mountain Road residents are expected to drop with the relocation.
South Lexington firefighters expect the district's fire tax of 11 cents per $100 valuation to remain the same with the new station.
Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or [email protected]. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.
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