Town of Winterville negotiates how to re-buy $243,000 in fire equipment

Winter Rural Fire District walks away with 50%

By: Arthur Mondale | WNCT
Published: March 17, 2010

Winterville
Fire response and services is an expensive business to be in. Over the past eight years the Winterville Fire Department acquired roughly $500,000 in new equipment.
Now the Winter Rural Fire District will walk away with 50%.
According to Town of Winterville manager Bill Whisnat, the separation means even though only six of the towns current 60 fire fighters will move to the new facility off Highway 903, the town is forced to relinquish---and re-buy $243,000 in new equipment.
Leaving the Winterville Fire Dept. roughly three months to man every person with enough gear and the town to pick up the $243,000 tab.
"The town is committed to provide the fire protection and outfitting everyone in making sure that safety is a priority,” said Winterville Fire Chief David Moore. “So no one is going to be without. It's just a matter of figuring out how we are going to pay for it."
Currently town officials are going over ways to pay for the new equipment.
But the town manager says they'll first tap into the town's fund balance---but property tax increases haven't been ruled out.
The town will hold public meetings over the next few weeks to determine the best option to come up with for money to pay for the additional equipment.
The next meeting is scheduled for April 12th.