A Keith Bridge Road property under contract with Forsyth County could become the home of a new Fire Station 8. In a 5-0 vote, county commissioners approved a land acquisition agreement on Thursday for about 2.85 acres just west of the current Station 8. The purchase price has been set at $142,500, or $50,000 per acre, depending on the final results of a land survey. The county has a 120-day due diligence period during which it can back out of the agreement with sellers Leonard and Mary Sue Ridings for any reason. Fire Chief Danny Bowman said the existing station was built by volunteers about 30 years ago and no longer meets modern needs. “Currently, the fire station is operating with our oldest fire apparatus because the new one won’t fit in the fire station,” Bowman said. The purchase would keep the building in basically the same location, which offers the benefits of major highway frontage, few homes in close proximity and good sight distance, he said. As a special term to the agreement, the county must erect and maintain a sound barrier on the west side of the property, which borders a home owned by David and Brenda Ridings, County Attorney Ken Jarrard said. The barrier will be similar to the one next to the fire station at Silver City, Jarrard said. The contract also required the county to put down $10,000 in earnest money, which will be refunded if the sale isn’t closed.
A Keith Bridge Road property under contract with Forsyth County could become the home of a new Fire Station 8. In a 5-0 vote, county commissioners approved a land acquisition agreement on Thursday for about 2.85 acres just west of the current Station 8. The purchase price has been set at $142,500, or $50,000 per acre, depending on the final results of a land survey. The county has a 120-day due diligence period during which it can back out of the agreement with sellers Leonard and Mary Sue Ridings for any reason. Fire Chief Danny Bowman said the existing station was built by volunteers about 30 years ago and no longer meets modern needs. “Currently, the fire station is operating with our oldest fire apparatus because the new one won’t fit in the fire station,” Bowman said. The purchase would keep the building in basically the same location, which offers the benefits of major highway frontage, few homes in close proximity and good sight distance, he said. As a special term to the agreement, the county must erect and maintain a sound barrier on the west side of the property, which borders a home owned by David and Brenda Ridings, County Attorney Ken Jarrard said. The barrier will be similar to the one next to the fire station at Silver City, Jarrard said. The contract also required the county to put down $10,000 in earnest money, which will be refunded if the sale isn’t closed.