Hacklebarney and Otter Creek may get new fire stations this year.
Commissioners approved a request for land acquisition and for construction of the new stations at their regular meeting Tuesday night.
County Fire Chief Santo Niño made the request to commissioners during the meeting.
The fire chief told the board the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Project will fund a portion of the land purchase and construction of the two stations.
“The funding is based on population and Pierce County would get 35 percent of the costs of the land and buildings,” he said.
Niño estimates the total costs of the land and buildings to be approximately $170,000 meaning Pierce County would have to come up with $110,000 in matching funds.
Niño based the construction estimate on the costs of the last two fire stations the county built in 2019 at Bearville and Southside.
Both stations might have to be relocated. Hacklebarney and Otter Creek are currently located on private property that is leased to the county. The Hacklebarney and Otter Creek lands are currently owned by community organizations that also have community centers on both properties.
County chairman Neal Bennett pointed out both stations would have to remain in close proximity to where they are not based on Insurance Service Organization (ISO) requirements.
The ISO helps determine home insurance rates and part of the criteria is based on a home’s promixity to a fire station.
Niño said he has already identified some potential parcels for the construction of the buildings.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to approve the project. Niño will begin preparing plans and getting quotes for construction.
