New fire station approved on Carter’s Creek Pike

Aug. 21--The Maury County Commission has approved funding for the county's 12th volunteer fire station.

The 7,232-square-foot fire hall will be located at 1180 Carters Creek Pike.

With funding for the project set aside in the county's budget, the commission unanimously approved the $966,000 construction contract with Paul Varney Construction at the commission's monthly meeting on Monday.

The approval marks the end of a three-year effort to provide additional protection to northern Maury County.

"That is an area that has been identified as a need for many years," said Peder Jensen, who will serve as the district chief for the new station. "Now, we are going to be able to provide adequate coverage for these areas. This provides us with a way to get to the area much quicker."

Jensen said architectural and engineering work was donated toward the project, saving the county an estimated $500,000.

"We have not spent a single penny in taxpayer dollars until now," Jensen said. "We are very excited about the opportunity to continue to serve our community."

A sign currently shows where the new station will be located off one of the county's most traversed roads.

The new station has been designed to match the aesthetics of the surrounding community with a brick facade and elements that match those or local history homes in the region.

In 2017, the county's building committee assigned now former Commission Chairman Michael Fulbright and Mayor Charlie Norman along with Fire Chief Eric Hileman to form a special initiative to begin the search for properties to build the new stations.

A retired firefighter, Norman then said the county will make sure the new stations will overlap within a five mile radius with other neighboring stations to ensure the county's citizens continue to see a discount on their home insurance.

In recent months, Maury County Commissioner Sue Stephenson was the primary proponent for the new station.

Maury County Fire Department has more than 200 volunteers, and continues to search for more.

The department currently operates 11 stations spread across the county's more than 600 square miles.

It began operation as the Maury County Civil Defense in 1970, primarily conducting search and rescue operations.

In 1980, a rural fire branch of the Civil Defense was established on the heels of the purchase of firefighting equipment with a grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority.

In 2005, County Mayor Jim Bailey and his office created the Maury County Fire Department by consolidating independent departments across the county under a single board of directors.

Note: This article has been amended to identify the contractor and the size of the approved project.

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