Dickson County commissioners on an early-December work session agreed to advance a proposal to build a volunteer fire station at White Oak Flat, a project county staff and Harpeth Ridge Fire Department officials say would close a gap in emergency coverage along Highway 49.

The commission voted in a voice vote to place the item on the Dec. 15 regular meeting agenda after hearing that Harpeth Ridge would donate roughly 1.5 acres at the Big Bend on Highway 49 and the county would construct a station and lease it back to the department for $1 per year for 50 years. According to staff, the arrangement would make the area within five driving miles of a station and improve response and ISO rating coverage for roughly 1,100 homes in the zone.

Rob Fisher, who presented the proposed design and cost estimate, described the planned building and budget: "it's going to be a 40 by 50, metal building. Pretty much the same thing that we built out at the airport... we're looking at roughly, you know, a $195,000 is what we're looking at for this project," he said. Fisher also said the building could house two, possibly three, fire apparatus depending on operational needs.

The meeting chair said the county expects to fund construction from excess or debt-service reserve funds and that the arrangement would not require a tax increase, summarizing the budget implication this way: "the net effect basically to us is 0," as stated in the presentation to the commission. Commissioners were told the county has closed the books for the year and anticipates available funds when final audits are complete.

Commissioner Beatty, who has been involved in discussions with Harpeth Ridge, and others noted the location at White Oak Flat is centrally placed for the targeted five-mile response radius. County staff said the Harpeth Ridge board gave unanimous approval to the concept when the county previously met with the volunteer department's directors.

The commission did not take final action to build the station during the work session; instead, it moved the item to the Dec. 15 regular meeting for formal consideration and any required votes. The county said further design specifics, funding confirmation and operational details will be available at that meeting.