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Volunteer fire department and Wadesboro continue negotiations over building conveyance and lease as June 30 insurance deadline looms
Summary
Volunteers and town staff remained in negotiations over whether the town should convey the fire station or enter a 10-year lease; volunteers presented a contract but said late edits were pending and both sides were urged to have attorneys finalize terms before a June 30 deadline that could affect the town ds insurance rating.
Town staff and leaders of the Wadesboro volunteer fire department spent a substantial portion of the meeting negotiating contract terms and options for the fire station property.
Volunteer president Hunter told council the volunteers had submitted a contract and said they had agreed on a per-call payment of $22. "We originally requested 25 uh we agreed to meet in the middle at 22," Hunter said. Volunteers said their preference at earlier meetings had been an outright conveyance of the building; the town ds attorney and staff described later conversations that shifted the proposal back to a potential 10-year lease because of questions about costs the volunteers might bear if ownership transferred.
Chiefs and staff stressed urgency: the town ds fire-insurance classification and compliance with state reporting require a finalized arrangement by June 30 to avoid potential penalties. "If we do not we are in violation of our insurance rating... it could potentially move us to class 10 insurance," the chief said, noting that a class 10 designation would have severe consequences for coverage and community insurance costs.
Why it matters: ownership or lease terms determine who bears capital and operating costs for the station, schedule conflicts and scheduling access when the building is not used for fire operations. Council staff said they would continue negotiations and coordinate attorneys on both sides to produce a single, vote-ready document. Volunteers asked for time to consult legal counsel and review late edits staff received the day of the meeting.
Next steps: Both sides agreed to continue negotiations and exchange a revised contract; town staff asked to have attorneys communicate directly so a final draft can be ready for the next council meeting. Given state insurance reporting and the June 30 date, staff characterized the timeline as urgent.
