Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 114, No. 35	August 29, 2007

Fire district to acquire additional land for new facility

Photo courtesy Martin Bosemer
The South Oldham fire station was built with the future in mind. In addition to the large bays, there is ample meeting space upstairs as well as a “command” station which officials particularly liked. The total cost of the station, including land, was $1.8 million.

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

Additional land, adjacent to the current parcel already acquired by the Meade County Fire District, is eyed for an October purchase, if not sooner.

The land, for the site of a new fire station, is near Bypass Road, restaurants and a motel. County Industrial Development Authority chairman David Pace was instrumental in negotiations, reducing the price by $10,000.

The parcel, for which the department will pay $25,000 and request a $25,000 tax abatement, will ensure “unwanted” neighbors won’t build near the site.

“We need to be very careful about this,” trustee Will T. Parker said during the Aug. 20 meeting. “At some point we need to make sure we have some money earmarked for brick and mortar. On the other hand I hate to be here without this land and wished we had that other piece of ground.”

Parker said board members needed to achieve the next step.

“I think we can (build) a new building, but we need to do it with some financial responsibility. I think we can make that happen,” Parker said.

“We need to review the past and look to the future together,” fire chief Larry Naser said. Trustee Mike Curl said the district would be foolish not to acquire the land, especially if it was the same deal.

“If we can get the parcel at a fair price, it makes good sense,” treasurer James Anthony said.

In a related matter, Naser, fire board chairman Martin Bosemer and trustee John Abadie, along with several fire fighters, visited departments to view recent construction and glean ideas.

Photo courtesy Martin Bosemer
The Leitchfield station is still under construction, members learned. This department was thinking for the future when they constructed their headquarters, which is adjacent to a city park. Each department visited were unique in their own ways, fire board chairman Martin Bosemer said.

“Most of them (departments) are similar to us in size or a little ahead of us,” Bosemer said.

The group visited departments in Breckinridge, Grayson, Nelson and Oldham counties.

“In Leitchfield we saw something on the side of forward-thinking,” Bosemer said.

The group learned the state had to approve every change made in the plans, Bosemer said. He also said one person should be designated a state contact, avoiding future problems.

Several buildings were compact already, precluding the chance for future expansion, while others were designed with the future in mind.

“Another of the departments isn’t over-cluttered and they also have a command station,” Bosemer said.

A command station features radios, a fax and other equipment at close disposal.

The cost of the South Oldham station was $1.8 million, which included the 4.5 acre parcel cost of about $350,000.

“It’s five years old and it’s a massive operation,” Bosemer said. “Two of their five bays are drive-through.”

Bosemer said department surveys were sent, seeking answers to pertinent questions. Three were returned and, when all are, a report will be compiled.

“You also need to build enough space for your needs,” Naser said.

He added attendance at fire school is increasing and the department has had to use outside facilities, such as the high school and the Extension office, to handle the crowds.

“It would be nice to have a building where we can put 60 students or something,” he said.

The Grayson County fire hall is adjacent to a park, Bosemer said, adding state officials were watching construction closely.

“They got some grant money for a park and also decided to put a fire station there,” he said.

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