Thursday, March 10, 2011
Chief Says Temporary Station Is Providing More Effective Protection
Lawrenceburg Fire Chief Don Kelly told city leaders Thursday that the establishment of a temporary station just west of the U.S. Highway 64 bridge construction project is providing more effective protection for residents in that area.
Since the construction effectively cuts off quick access to the western most part of Lawrenceburg, officials opted to establish a makeshift station until the bridge construction is completed.
State officials estimate the project will take six months
Kelly told members of the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Council that things are going well with the newly-established station. The temporary station is situated just west of the western most construction, on property owned by Gary Mitchell.
“He is allowing us to use the property,” Kelly said, “and we staff it from around 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m…It has really paid off. The very first day we were set up there one of my men was involved in a traffic accident and we had around a thirty-second response time.”
Assistant Police Chief Darren Goolsby said police officers are being posted in that area as well. Gooslby explained, “We keep one officer over there - two if we can.”
They are posted throughout the department’s first and second shift, Gooslby said, and during third shift only as needed. Having police officers posted west of the construction allows the department to dispatch them both east and west to stop traffic completely when ambulances and other emergency vehicles need to pass through quickly.
City Administrator William McLain reported that, though the temporary station is currently the only solution, there are some non-budgeted costs associated with maintaining it. Salaries are being paid for two reserve firemen to man the station.
Also, McLain said there are some costs associated with utilities. McLain said he intends to forward the bill for these added expenses to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. “I’m going to ask for reimbursement,” he said.
