Lincolnton planning for new public safety station
by: Lisa Brown
(7/26/2010)
Lincoln City Council recently approved $100,000 to be given to the Lincolnton Fire Department to help with renovating a new public safety station.
Next year, Lincolnton will house fire personnel at a new base on Ross Street. This change comes after Council members unanimously voted to terminate their contract with the Boger City Volunteer Fire Department. The contract is set to expire April 5, 2011.
In 1989, a contract was formed between the two departments, requiring Lincolnton to house a full-time firefighter at Boger City’s former station on East Main Street.
“When the station moved to (McAlister Road), our personnel went with them,” Lee said. “The problem I have with the contract is that we are required to answer all of Boger City’s calls.
“... We are taking city employees out of the city and moving them into the county. This reduces our ability to fight fire and serve the people of Lincolnton.”
The safety station which used to house the Boger City Sanitation Department as well as EMS, needs a lot of work before firefighters can move in.
“It’s large enough to hold two ambulances but not large enough to hold one of our trucks,” Lee said.
In April, Boger City Fire Chief Mike Hill voiced his concern regarding the contracts termination. He previously said this change would have a negative effect on his department.
“Right now Lincolnton provides us with 24-hour protection and I feel that the termination of our contract will affect the people living in the Boger City fire district,” Hill told the Times-News.
The Lincolnton Chief assures his department will assist Boger City, but only when needed.
“Every department in the county has a mutual aid contract agreement, meaning we all work together because none of us can do it by ourselves,” Lee explained. “I feel that we need to keep our resources in town as much as possible because the citizens are paying for our services. We’re still going to assist (Boger City) but it’s just going to be less than what we do now.”
The renovation of the public safety base is expected to begin in two months.
