WASHINGTON CITY – Shovels hit the ground, and earth was turned over Monday afternoon as civic officials and firefighters marked the groundbreaking for a new fire station in the Coral Canyon area of Washington City along state Route 9.
Located at approximately 66 N. Carol Canyon Road next to the Texaco gas station, the new fire station is a joint venture between Washington City and the Hurricane Valley Fire District. It will provide much closer coverage for Washington City’s northern area and the nearby industrial park in Hurricane where the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Lighthouse Foods, DATS Trucking and other businesses are located.
“We’re excited to see it move forward,” Washington City Fire Chief Matt Evans said.
The station will be staffed with a mix of Washington City and Hurricane Valley firefighters, Evans said, and they will respond accordingly to any fire threat or emergency in both cities.
The cost of station operation, like manpower, will also be shared between the city and the fire district, Evans said.
The new fire station is being built on a 1.5-acre parcel and is projected to cost just over $2 million to build, Hurricane Valley Fire Chief Tom Kohlmann said.
The original cost of the facility was anticipated to be around $1.5 million, with funding provided by the state’s Community Impact Board in two parts. This took the form of a 30-year, $1 million loan with a 3.2 percent interest rate and a $500,000 grant.
Officials are seeking additional funds to cover the final cost, Kohlmann said.
Washington City approved the sale of the property for the new fire station in July 2016. The sale was accompanied by the approval of an automatic aid agreement between Washington City, the Hurricane Valley Fire District and Hildale.
In the case of an automatic aid agreement, dispatch doesn’t wait for Hurricane or Washington to make a request. If they are the nearest agency to one one another, they automatically roll out, Evans previously told St. George News.
While a Washington City Fire unit could be paged out to Hildale – and has been in the past, Washington City Manager Roger Carter said – Hurricane Valley Fire District could respond to the situation while units from Washington City are sent into Hurricane proper to supply back up and continuity of protection.
The agreement is primarily related to responses to structure fires.
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Civic and fire officials break ground for a new fire station in the Coral Canyon area of Washington City along SR-9. The new station will be jointly staffed and maintained by the Washington City Fire Department and Hurricane Valley Fire District, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 30, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News
Firefighters take part in the groundbreaking for a new fire station in the Coral Canyon area of Washington City along SR-9. The new station will be jointly staffed and maintained by the Washington City Fire Department and Hurricane Valley Fire District, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 30, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News
Shovels used for the groundbreaking for a new fire station in the Coral Canyon area of Washington City along SR-9. The new station will be jointly staffed and maintained by the Washington City Fire Department and Hurricane Valley Fire District, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 30, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News
A rendering of a new fire station to be built in the Coral Canyon area of Washington City along SR-9. The new station will be jointly staffed and maintained by the Washington City Fire Department and Hurricane Valley Fire District, image not dated | Image courtesy of the Hurricane Valley Fire District, St. George News
At the groundbreaking for a new fire station in the Coral Canyon area of Washington City along SR-9. The new station will be jointly staffed and maintained by the Washington City Fire Department and Hurricane Valley Fire District, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 30, 2017 | Photo by Mike Cole, St. George News
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There are lots of things I would like to have too. But I can’t afford them. 2 million for a private fire department for newer built Coral Canyon and Walmart distribution? And another for Virgin? Increased property taxes for seniors in Hurricane who are on a fixed budget and middle class families who are already financially strapped and have already had a recent property tax increase? Does anyone care about the people they tax so flippantly? Hurricane FD can’t seem to figure out how to run its department. It jumps back and forth from Hurricane to joining up with neighboring cities and then back to Hurricane and now Washington City. Make up your minds, and stop increasing our taxes every time someone gets an idea to change things! The money you are using is not YOURS. It belongs to the taxpayers!
They don’t care. They get paid with tax money and they spend tax money willy-nilly. They love taxes. They love to waste taxes. They get paid either way.
Right on, Sapphire. The next thing to do is to show up for council meetings (there’s one tonight) and let the village brass know just how you feel about them spending tax dollars on frivolous and privileged projects. Of course we have money for a swimming pool cover, a new limited-coverage fire station and lots of other stuff. Will you come to the meeting and ask them how much they want to spend on restoring an antique bell to put on display at the civic center? If enough people voice their objections to spendthrift officials, perhaps something will be done about it. Or maybe not.
Those taxes taken do not belong to the tax payers ! the city, county and state can do as they wish with those taxes
Very well thought out and profound comment.