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Property committee approves low-cost lease for Milton volunteer fire station site
Summary
Rutherford County commissioners approved a nominal lease to reestablish a volunteer fire truck and station site in Milton, with the county covering property taxes and maintenance; proponents said the move could limit increases in homeowners’ fire-insurance premiums.
Rutherford County’s Property Management Committee voted to approve a lease that would allow the county to place a volunteer fire truck and reestablish a small station on land in Milton previously donated to a volunteer fire department.
The lease described at the meeting would charge a nominal rent (the presenter said “$10” for the term) and require the county to pay the property taxes for the parcel; the presenter estimated the most recent annual property tax would have been about $539. The county would also be responsible for building maintenance and utilities, while the landowner would have no insurance cost increase, the presenter said.
Chief Larry Farley, speaking to the committee during public comment, said the land had reverted to the donor after a prior volunteer department ceased operations and that reestablishing a staffed truck and a few volunteers would put Milton within five miles of a fire station. “Because that station went away, the residents of Milton, their insurance would probably go from $1,200 to $3,600 a year,” Farley said, arguing that restoring a local presence would prevent that increase.
Committee members asked for clarification of the lease term and operational responsibilities. The presenter said the lease term could be either 10 or 20 years (the transcript record stated “whether it be 10 or 20 years,” not a firm choice) and reiterated that the county would pay taxes and maintain the building.
After a motion and second, the committee took a roll-call vote and approved the lease unanimously. The record shows Commissioners Dodd, Davidson, Wilson, Phillips, Arvin, Johnson and Chairman McAde voting yes.
The committee’s action was procedural: it approved the lease agreement so the county may proceed with the arrangement described at the meeting. The motion did not allocate capital funds for construction or staffing of a permanent, county-operated station; those details were discussed as future operational responsibilities rather than formal budget actions at this meeting.
The lease discussion occurred during the committee’s public-comment and agenda items; questions about terms and tax amounts were answered on the record. The committee did not adopt an operating budget for station staffing or equipment at this meeting.
