The Hamilton County Commission discussed a resolution to purchase a $400,000 piece of property on Taft Highway, where there are plans to construct a new fire hall for the volunteer fire department in Walden’s Ridge on Signal Mountain.
Commissioner Jim Fields said the fire department services Signal Mountain, as well as many other areas, and provides first responder and emergency services.
“You hear about them in the news when someone is hiking along the mountain and makes a wrong step,” said Commissioner Fields.
He went on to explain that the current facility that the firefighters currently use is very cramped and that they have outgrown the location both in terms of their equipment and the number of volunteers.
The spot to be purchased is next to the old facility, so the fire department will be able to continue to work from the existing building until the new one is finished. It will likely use the old location to increase its parking area and outdoor training space, Commissioner Fields said.
He explained that several different pieces of property were considered, but topography on the mountain would make the preparation of other lots extremely expensive. On top of that, he said the response time of services would be increased if they chose a different location.
He explained that the cost of the neighboring property is so high because there are four buildings on the land.
Commissioner Joe Graham said he plans to support the resolution, but wanted to know more about why it was such “an extraordinarily expensive piece of property.”
County Mayor Jim Coppinger said “unfortunately this is the cheapest piece and our cheapest way out.”
“We certainly realize that it’s quite a bit of money to pay for that property, but again it’s Walden’s Ridge, and it’s driven by the market,” he said.