Rock Hill (Sullivan County) sets hearing for firehouse project

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Rock Hill sets hearing for firehouse project

Times Herald-Record

August 17, 2007

Rock Hill — The Rock Hill Fire District wants to build a new firehouse that would cost between $6.5 and $7.5 million.

The project would raise the district tax from its current rate of $1.04 per $1,000 of assessed value to about $2.25 per $1,000, fire Chief Sean Rieber said.

A public hearing on the project is scheduled for Oct. 22 in the existing Rock Hill firehouse on Glen Wild Road. A public referendum is scheduled for Oct. 30 — also at the firehouse.

Rieber said both dates are tentative, but almost certain.

The district plans to demolish its firehouse and build anew on almost the same spot.

The proposed firehouse would be larger — seven truck bays instead of the current six, with some of the new bays deep enough to store more than one truck, Rieber said. Extra space is needed to store the department's six firetrucks, two boats and one ATV.

Cramped quarters at the firehouse have forced personnel to improvise.

"The second boat we've now mounted to a wall using straps," Rieber said, adding that the department also rents a bin to store some of its belongings, while tables and chairs have been relegated to outside storage.

Rieber said the nature of the construction would allow for easy additions in the future so the building can grow with the community. It would likely be metal with sandstone and siding on the front.

"Something that fits into the community," he said.

The district is also proposing to build a social hall twice the size of its current one. Boy Scouts, ladies auxiliary, community development and other groups meet in the social hall.

It's also one of the main emergency shelters for the Town of Thompson, Rieber said.

The proposal includes a training room for classes on CPR and driving safety; laundry facilities that would allow firefighters to wash fire clothes instead of sending them to a cleaning service; and ball fields in the backyard.

Fire Commissioner Steven Gottlieb and Rieber have unveiled the tentative plans at lake association, community development and Town Board meetings, where, they say, they've met positive responses.

Cliff Schwartz, a Rock Hill resident, attended one of the meetings and said people were wholly supportive of the plan.

"Nobody got the feeling that this was a vanity project, it's all about function," he said. "We're putting our trust in the firefighters."