Leonardtown, MD — The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County have approved a $705,000 loan to the Seventh District Volunteer Fire department for renovation and expansion of their firehouse in Avenue. The monies for the 15-year, .5 percent loan are coming from the county’s Fire and Rescue Revolving Loan Fund.
Total cost of the Seventh District project will be $847,000. According to the department’s president John Nelson, the plans include:
• A two-story addition
• New ADA compliant restrooms
• Walkways
• Sleeping quarters and showers so the station can be manned when needed
• A training area
• Installation of a sprinkler system
• Repainting the existing area, including replace door and windows, apply nonskid surface epoxy on apparatus floors, replace old ceiling tile, update the old heating system, install security system locks and upgrade the outdoor fire prevention sign.
Acting St. Mary’s County Chief Financial Officer Jeannett Cudmore presented the proposal to the commissioners at their April 21 meeting and it was unanimously approved. Cudmore said the fire department intends to pay back the loan with the extra monies received with a fire tax increase approved last year. Annual payment is $48,794.40.
Cudmore said the revolving loan currently has $1.4 million available and an additional $300,000 will be added for the next fiscal year. She said originally a project at the Mechanicsville VFD was the first priority for use of the loan fund but that project has been delayed.
The commissioners received letters of support from the St. Mary’s County Fireboard Association and the Emergency Services Committee both indicating the Seventh District project was their number one priority.
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com