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Commissioners authorize $440,000 from county reserves to finish Eagle Springs Fire Department expansion
Summary
After Chief Mike St. Onge outlined a $2.1 million three-phase expansion partially funded by $1.3 million in state appropriations and a $360,000 Randolph Electric loan, commissioners approved using $440,000 from county capital reserves to complete the project, with staff authorized to pursue additional external funding.
The Moore County Board of Commissioners approved a plan to fund the remaining balance of the Eagle Springs Fire Department's $2.1 million building expansion. Chief Mike St. Onge (S20) told the board the project has been executed in phases to maintain operations and that the department has secured $1.3 million in state appropriations plus a $360,000 1% Randolph Electric loan. The remaining need is $440,000.
Staff presented three funding options: (1) finance the entire balance through private borrowing at commercial rates, (2) accept the Randolph Electric loan and finance the remainder privately, or (3) fund the $440,000 from the county's Fund 2-58 capital reserves now and allow the department to pursue additional Randolph Electric funding; if outside funding is later secured the county would be repaid into the capital fund. Commissioners discussed interest-rate tradeoffs and cash-management returns and chose Option 3 as the lowest-cost and lowest-risk approach in the near term.
Board action: A motion to allocate $440,000 from Fund 2-58 for completion of the project passed. Staff will prepare a budget amendment and the chair was authorized to sign once finance prepares the paperwork. Chief St. Onge may continue to pursue additional Randolph Electric funding; any such funds would be returned to the county fund if obtained.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the expansion will add two apparatus bays, sleeping quarters, and space to house an EMS unit, increasing local emergency coverage capacity.
