We should rethink state-of-the-art firehouse

A few years ago, the St. James Lanark Village fire department was closed due to mismanagement. The Carrabelle Volunteer Fire Department took on the responsibility of providing fire services for the Lanark community. Prior to the fire department closing, the emergency medical services team was housed in the firehouse in Lanark Village; after the station closed, the first responders moved to a building west of the Carrabelle bridge.

Recently, the St. James Lanark Village fire department was reopened with well-trained volunteers and a new fire engine. 

County commissioners issued an RFP with the intention to construct a facility on county-owned land adjacent to the fire station. The bid response is projected to cost over $1 million for essentially a 2,800-square-foot house that will sleep three or four people, provide restroom facilities, adequate parking, storage, and a common area for eating and relaxing. Why was this bid so high? Why was a firm out of Leon County selected when we have construction firms right here in Franklin County? 

There are six fire departments in Franklin County, serving St. George Island, Apalachicola, Eastpoint, Carrabelle, St. James and Lanark, and Alligator Point. Because of the distance between towns, the danger of bridges in inclement weather and U.S. 98 being the main thoroughfare, each community should have its own first responders. Does this mean we will need to construct more “state-of-the-art” EMS facilities? And what will this cost the taxpayers? How will local property values be affected by a $1 million facility in Lanark Village? 

My second issue with the commissioners is the pickleball court being proposed on county-owned land in Lanark Village. The average age of a Lanark Village resident is 62.2 years, according to Google. 

The cost for an outdoor pickleball court ranges from $20,000-$50,000 for one court. The public court will need to be maintained, insured and meet ADA standards. Due to the noise of pickleball courts, many places have found it necessary to put in sound barriers. What will this do to property taxes? The same amount of money earmarked for a pickleball court could be used for exercise stations at Sewell Park, and the county would retain its land to provide another public service in the future. 

I have observed residents love their dogs and enjoy walking them. People have complained for years about the sidewalks; they have not been maintained. It’s difficult for emergency medical personnel to navigate gurneys on the uneven sidewalks, and some are not wide enough to accommodate a gurney. Residents have difficulty moving their cumbersome trash barrels to the curb due to the sidewalks. Emergency medical technicians have complained it is difficult to locate a specific unit due to damaged street signs and address issues in the village, especially at night. 

In my opinion, county commissioners did not do their due diligence. It’s time to get back to the basics: A solid communication system, adequate street lighting and signage so first responders can find the person in distress, and smooth sidewalks so patients can be transported safely. 

The million dollars earmarked for the EMS facility could be used to buy a modular three-bedroom, two-bath house, and the remainder of the money could be used to improve the sidewalks, lighting, and signage throughout Lanark. Or the million dollars could be used to renovate the firehouse to accommodate our volunteer firefighters and first responders. 

Both issues boil down to “wants” versus “needs.” Should the county put the wants of a few over the needs of the many? 

Vicki Hart

Lanark Village