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Resident urges council to reject local purchase of gear washer and questions $4M station expansion
Summary
A long-time firefighter told the council the county already provides gear-washing resources and called a proposed $4 million (likely higher) Onancock station expansion duplicative and costly, urging county-wide coordination of fire/EMS assets.
Glenn Smith, who described 43 years as a firefighter including time at the Onancock Volunteer Fire Department, argued the county and nearby stations already provide gear-washing equipment and that buying a local washer and dryer would duplicate services paid by taxpayers. "Purchasing the washer and dryer is a duplication of services that the taxpayers don't need to pay for when the equipment is already is easily available," Smith said.
Smith also questioned the need for a $4 million expansion at the Pine Street station, saying Tasley’s newer, larger station and other county resources could be coordinated to avoid costly duplication. He urged the council to press county supervisors for a coordinated plan for fire and EMS services to improve efficiency and reduce taxpayer expense. No formal council action on the OVFD request was recorded at this meeting.
