A parcel of land identified and set to be purchased for a new Gentry Fire Station, between Baxter and the Putnam County line.
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said it has been challenging to find suitable land along Highway 70 given the steep terrain in the area. Porter said the county will purchase the one-acre plot for some $20,000. Putnam County Fire Chief Jeff Hicks said he hopes to have the station ready soon, even with construction crews in the Putnam County Maintenance Department busy.
“With the new fairgrounds and still operating out of the old fairgrounds so we can have the fair there, you know, they are stretched,” Hicks said. “But outside of that, I feel like we could still be in by fall without much problem.”
Hicks said the property is an irregular triangle shape but will still suit a new station and parking. He said the first step in the process is to tear down the existing store building on the property to make way for the metal fire station. He said the county has considered several locations given the challenges of finding land.
“A lot of people, it’s hard,” Hicks said. “Hard to give up the land. Mr. Stanton, he realized the need and he knows it’s going to benefit him and we were grateful that he was willing to sell his land so we can put a station there.”
He said the area has never had an accredited station. He said this way, anyone within five miles of the new station will save money on insurance rates through a higher ISO fire-safety rating.
“It’ll have two bay doors,” Hicks said. “It’ll actually have living quarters ready. There won’t be anybody living there, but it’ll be set up. Eventually, someday, we hope to have somebody living there.”
County Commissioners approved the land purchase Monday night.
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