Fire department presents $150,000 building estimate; committee asks department heads to meet on consolidation

The Trousdale County fire department told the advisory committee it had obtained an informal turnkey estimate of roughly $150,000 for a 43-by-85 building with sprinklers, electricity, heat, six roll-up doors and concrete. "It's gonna be roughly 150,000 for a 43 by 85 building," the fire representative said, adding the figure is an estimate and might be lower.

Committee members discussed whether to consolidate fire and rescue services at a single facility. Fire staff said much cross-training already exists and described roles for members who do not enter burning structures; the chair presented a survey packet from Kevin Lauer that summarized prior logistics work and identified gaps if consolidation moved forward. "His ideas are all legit," the chair said of the packet, but noted it did not provide all answers and that ordinances or SOG/SOP alignment might be required.

Members directed department heads and staff to meet, hammer out details and return with a recommended set-up. When the chair put the proposal to a voice vote, one member explicitly opposed it but the group proceeded to ask the department heads to meet and report back. No ordinance or formal consolidation was adopted at the meeting; the committee limited its action to asking the department heads to coordinate and bring a plan back for review.

Separately, the fire representative reviewed recent call activity, mutual-aid responses and upgrades to CAD e-dispatch mapping that now routes calls and displays CAD notes on responders' phones. He also said turnout-gear purchases (about $10,000) would come from an existing 111 budget line and noted some extrication-class towing expenses may be shared with Rescue.