Erica Smith
The Decatur Daily, Ala.
(TNS)
Jul. 24—Hartselle Fire & Rescue is relocating Fire Station 1 to a new and bigger location, on land that was partially donated by the Morgan County Commission.
“We have outgrown the facilities we have now,” said Hartselle Fire Chief Daryl Fox. “Also, spacing out the stations we currently have for coverage and deployment.”
Fire Station 1 is currently located at 200 Main St. E. The new location will be on Shull Road Northeast. Fire Station 2 is located at 100 Crestline Drive Southwest. All are in Hartselle.
Hartselle Mayor Randy Garrison said the current locations are probably a little over a mile apart, but the new location will be probably about 2 1/2 to 3 miles away from Station 2.
“We needed a new and updated station,” he said. “The one where we are now could not be enlarged. That station was actually built for one person to stay there when it was built way back however many years ago.”
Fox said the new location will have more apparatus and living space.
“It’ll have more bedrooms,” he said. “Here we just have one bedroom that we occupy with four beds. This will be more private as far as bedroom and bed.”
Garrison said the new station will have four fire truck bays.
“We’ve got a new ladder truck on order, and it will not fit in that (current) station,” he said.
At a Morgan County Commission meeting last month, the commission approved “to declare as surplus and donate to the city of Hartselle a portion of property” in Hartselle. Commission Chairman Ray Long said the land is located across the street from the Morgan County Engineering Department. He said it is probably not over 1 1/2 acres.
“The donated property hasn’t been surveyed yet, but it’s the land south and west of Shull Road Northeast,” County Engineer Greg Bodley said. “It is a part of the tract acquired to build the District 2 shop back in the 1960s.”
The District 2 shop is on Shull Road Northeast. Long said the land has been used over the years, but mostly just for District 2 storage.
“Years ago, the District 2 shop used to pile gravel and pipe there. They don’t do it anymore,” he said. “We don’t really use it right now anyway, so it’s just there, and they asked for it. We want to help them any way we can. We’re always good partners with all municipalities.”
Garrison said the donated land will be on the east side of the property they already had.
“It’ll be great because it’ll give us more room for parking,” he said. “Plus, it’ll square up the property lines.”
Fox said they are still in the beginning phases and talking with an architect now. He said he does not have a timeline right now but would like to see construction start in the fall and be finished in a year.
Garrison said they will not have an estimated price of the total project until it goes out to bid. He said the funds will come from a bond the city obtained a few years ago.
—erica.smith@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2460.
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