To renovate or rebuild? Wadesboro Fire Department seeks public input on funding

April 26--The town of Wadesboro is asking for the public's thoughts on finding funding for a new fire station.

The right section, which houses offices and storage for the department upstairs, was built in 1910, while the left side housing the vehicle bay was constructed in 1923, according to town manager Alex Sewell. The bay side was last renovated in 1963, according to a plaque on the building's wall.

Fire Chief Marc Sessions said the right side of the station received its last minor renovations 15 years ago, and that the upstairs portion has never been renovated. The fire department shares a facility with the town police department.

Visitors for both departments normally enter the vehicle bay, which houses three fire trucks and the dispatch window. When all three vehicles are parked, they block the dispatcher's view of the door, creating a safety issue should someone come in with a gun, Sessions said. Two of the vehicles are hooked to an exhaust system, but the bay still contains exhaust fumes that firefighters, police officers and visitors are exposed to.

When returning from a call, the firefighters enter the bay to go to a side room to decontaminate their gear, spreading potential fumes in that open area, Sessions said. Asbestos and mold from leaks contribute to the environmental concerns in the building.

Ceilings on both floors leak. A lone air conditioner cools the entire upstairs. The floor is giving way in an upstairs storage space. Equipment fills each available nook, and then some; disaster response equipment and educational materials are stored in a trailer outside the building.

The fire department operates out of 4,380 square feet, of which 1,834 is solely the garage. A needs assessment completed by Steve Allen with Solutions for Local Government, Inc. in Charlotte showed that the department should have 11,574 square feet just in building space. Including parking, the assessment showed that the department needs 25,339 square feet.

"One of the biggest concerns is space needs," Sewell said. "This space serves the approximately 10,000 folks within the fire district. I think they're operating out of a space that doesn't come close to meeting those needs."

The bay gives the department's trucks mere inches of clearance, but the department is trying to buy a replacement truck that would typically be taller than the bay is. To buy a replacement, Sewell added, the department will have to purchase one made to fit the building's space specifications, which is more expensive than a normal-sized truck.

"It's just like if you get something custom-made instead of a cookie-cutter one," he said.

According to Sessions, the trucks get parked outside for maintenance, creating a safety concern. When leaving the bay to respond to a call, they navigate a sharp turn out of the bay to turn either way down Washington Street across from the town hall, and have to watch for cars coming over the hill or around the corner from each end.

A new building is anticipated to cost up to $1.1 million if the building is constructed at the site of the current facility, Sessions said, adding he would rather invest funds into a new building than make the many necessary repairs to the current facility.

"If we don't find a new home, we'll have to look at putting serious money into this building, which would get expensive real quick," Sewell said.

Sessions acknowledged the steep price tag, but said a new facility would hopefully offer a meeting room and more space for disaster training than the current facility has.

Sessions said he has looked for and continues to seek grant funding to help pay for a new facility, and that the size and condition of the building makes it difficult to host fundraisers.

"We're not equipped to host the traditional fire department barbecue, dinners, things of that nature, nor will our facility support that," Sessions said.

Sewell added that the more time firefighters spend on fundraising, the less time they would have to devote to public safety education and fire inspections.

A new facility would be ADA-compliant, he said. Currently, the only access to the upstairs offices and storage is through a staircase that is not handicap accessible.

Sessions said that a new facility would also have more technological benefits.

"When we have moderate to heavy rains, our IT goes out the window because our wiring is in such bad shape that it basically knocks us offline," Sessions said.

Currently, there is limited space to hold public education sessions or invite school groups, but said those visits would increase "dramatically" if a new building was constructed, he said. The meeting room of the proposed building would seat 100 people.

"We did almost 60 programs last year, from everyone from businesses to civic groups," Sessions said. "To have the ability to set equipment up and offer multiple classes throughout the day will be phenomenal."

He also wants more space to train firefighters. Many of the training sessions are now held off-site, but could be held in a larger facility, which would keep firefighters in the department more to respond to emergencies.

In order to lower residents' insurance ratings, the department will need to have more space to put new equipment, Sessions added.

Before making a decision, the town hopes to hear from residents. Tours of the fire station will be offered from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Monday or can be scheduled at other times by calling Sessions at 704-694-2151, ext. 6.

"We want the public to come and see the current conditions these folks are operating out of," Sewell said. "I think these conditions speak for themselves."

Sessions said the time to make a decision about the facility has come.

"I feel like we're at a deciding moment in the history of our town," the fire chief said. "We can continue to grow to serve our citizens, organizations and businesses. But we have got to have resources to be able to make that growth."

The town council plans to vote on how to fund the new station during its regular meeting at 5 p.m. next Monday. A public hearing will be held during the meeting so that residents can share their thoughts. Suggestions can also be sent to the town hall in writing before the meeting or emailed to wadesboroclerk@windstream.net.

The town hall is located at 123 E. Wade Street, Wadesboro. The fire station is located across the street at 111 N. Washington Street.

Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.

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