June 10, 2010
Thursday

Ketchikan, Alaska - The North Tongass Fire & EMS (NTF&ESA) Board of Directors has approved pursuing the possible purchase of the lot and vacant building located at 10540 North Tongass Highway for Fire Station 7 according to Fire Chief Dave Hull.

The North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department has been in existence since the referendum to form the service area and the fire department was approved by the area residents in March of 2003. The planning for Station 7 dates back to November 23, 2003 with the passage of Resolution 1781. Resolution 1781 laid out the long term vision of four fire stations strategically positioned along the North Tongass Highway. The motivation for four sites was to provide for maximum efficiency and safety in transporting water and emergency equipment to the scene of any emergency in the area.

Hull said, the process of building Station 7 has been part of the 5-10 year planning process for the fire department. The fourth station is in the 15-20 year plan. The search for land began in earnest in late 2008 as a result of President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Funding for fire station construction projects was offered on a competitive basis. A $1.38 million grant for a 2-bay station was written and several lots were identified as possible locations for the fire station. The grant application was not approved and the project stalled.

The prospect of Station suddenly took a turn when the Board of Directors of the NTF& ESA suggested that the department look into buying the vacant building and lot at 10540 North Tongass Highway for Station 7 said Chief Hull. "The 4-bay building has everything the North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department would need, including a good location and space, at a very reasonable cost to the service area. The owner of the land has offered to carry the note on the property for 10 years at a cost of $800,000 plus interest," said Hull.

Hull said there will be public gatherings and workshops scheduled in the service area to present the proposal to the residents of the north end and hear their ideas. The North Tongass Fire and EMS Board of Directors want to hear from the residents of the service area and ask that as many residents as possible attend one of the meetings to offer their opinions for or against the project said Hull.

Chief Hull announced today (Thursday) that there will be a special workshop meeting for the North Tongass Fire & EMS Board of Directors on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 starting at 5:30pm. The location of the meeting will be at Fire Station 8 located at 13110 North Tongass Highway. Items discussed in the workshop session will pertain to the proposed purchase of the building and property at 10540 North Tongass Highway for the purpose of locating Fire Station 7 there. The public is invited to attend.

There will also be a North Tongass Fire & EMS Board of Directors meeting for the residents of the service area on Thursday June 24, 2010 starting at 6:00 pm at 10540 North Tongass Highway, the old K-Weld building. The purpose of the meeting is to take input from the north end residents regarding the proposal to purchase the property and locating Fire Station 7 there. The public is asked to attend this very important meeting and offer their opinions on the Board's proposal.

Source of News, Photograph, Map:

North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department
www.northtongassfire.org

 

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Ketchikan, Alaska