Upgrades to the Mason Fire Department could cost taxpayers $1.4 million as the city grapples with explosive suburban growth.
The latest independent report outlined several changes needed in the wake of a fire that tore through a $250,000 home in the Crooked Tree subdivision.
"We hated that black eye that they got in regards of the Crooked Tree fire," Mayor Char Pelfrey said.
Among the report's recommendations are adding a third fire station, promoting six people and hiring a second deputy chief and a training officer.
The city spent $500,000 on a new fire truck. All personnel are being trained on it, and in general firefighters are getting extra training since the Crooked Tree incident.
A third fire station is expected to cost $188,000, and the latest report cost $42,000.
Pelfrey said he expects to start implementing some of the changes within weeks.
"(We're working) to change it from a rural department to a department that's going to house up to 50,000 people in the city of Mason," Pelfrey said.
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