May 30, 2008

Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue and Catawba County officials are continuing with plans for Sherrills Ford Fire to serve the entire area of Catawba County served by the Denver Fire Department. The plans follow a May 19, 2008 letter, in which Denver Fire Chief James Flynn informed Catawba County that the Denver Fire Department will end a contract to provide fire service to portions of southeastern Catawba County on June 30, 2008.

At its May 29 budget public hearing and wrap up, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners approved a new fire district map for Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue, which reflects the change.

“Public safety and service to our citizens is and always has been our foremost concern,” said Catawba County Emergency Services Director David Weldon. “With the opening of a new base on Slanting Bridge Road earlier this year, Sherrills Ford Fire and Rescue will provide 1 to 3 minutes faster response times and better fire insurance ratings to the eastern section of the district currently served by the Denver Fire Department. We had continually asked the Denver Fire Department to continue serving the western and central portions of the district at a fire tax rate of 3.89 cents. The response of the Denver Fire Department was to insist on an 8.92 cent fire tax rate. Catawba County cannot justify a doubling of the fire tax rate to our citizens in that area from the present 3.89 cents to an 8.92 cent fire tax rate, nor can Catawba County justify its citizens paying a disproportionate share of the Denver fire budget .”

Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue has secured property in the central section of the district, from an anonymous donor, for a temporary and permanent fire station and will be in a position to provide service on July 1, 2008. The Sherrills Ford Fire Department has worked with the North Carolina Department of Insurance to transfer Sherrills Ford’s current fire insurance rating of 6, an improved rating for the vast majority of persons in that area, to the entire, expanded Sherrills Ford fire district. The North Carolina Department of Insurance has approved a rating of 6 for the entire area, which will become effective on July 1, 2008.

“We have had a great working relationship with Sherrills Ford Fire and Rescue and appreciate their willingness to prepare to serve the entire district as of July 1, 2008,” Weldon said. “Catawba County expects response times and fire insurance ratings will improve for the majority of persons living in that entire service area.”

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners will adopt a fiscal year 2008-2009 County budget at its meeting beginning at 9:30 on Monday, June 2, 2008 at the 1924 Courthouse at 30 North College Avenue in Newton.  The new budget is expected to apply the current 5 cent fire tax rate in the existing Sherrills Ford Fire District across the expanded portions of that district.

CONTACT: DAVID WELDON, EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR          828-465-8233