County Makes Offer To Purchase Beulah Fire Station

June 26, 2018

Escambia County is making a $300,000 offer to purchase the fire station property at 6400 West Nine Mile Road from the non-profit Beulah Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.. The property is about six acres with a 6,000 square foot fire station building. The purchase price was the average of two appraisals.

A portion of the property has a reverter clause that would return that portion to the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, but ECUA has agreed to release that claim.

Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said he wants to see the facility modernized and building an addition with a kitchen, bunks and showers.

“It’s woefully inadequate for what’s out there,” Bergosh said of the current fire station. He said the county should also consider the addition of a paid daytime fire crew to supplement, but not replace, the response of volunteers.

“I support volunteer firefighters…I am never going to run them out,” he said.

The purchase will be funded from the Local Option Sales Tax.

File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “County Makes Offer To Purchase Beulah Fire Station”

  1. SD on June 26th, 2018 7:59 pm

    Mitch you are correct. For this reason he should not be voted in for the new Superintendent of Schools or another term as a CC.

  2. Olin Schultz on June 26th, 2018 5:52 pm

    While I agree that Beulah has grown leaps and bounds and could support a paid crew, If money will be made from a non profit organization, why not pay the descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Twilley who donated this property to the BVFD. Seems only fair.

  3. Stumpknocker on June 26th, 2018 12:14 pm

    Just wondering since it’s non profit, who get the money.

  4. M in Bratt on June 26th, 2018 10:10 am

    This brings a few questions to mind; If this property was purchased and improved by donations from the community, how come the community has to buy it back? What is the MSBU funded Beulah Fire “Dept. going to do with $300,000.

    Truth be known, the County should have title to all the property of these “non profit corporations” before any further County funding is extended to them.

  5. Mitch on June 26th, 2018 8:02 am

    Why are we spending this amount of money for this station. We have one of the brightest commissioner there is. He spends more money then any other commissioner. I’m so glad they can spend our money like this makes me sick. Jeff loves to spend our money don’t he. I’m waiting on the final price for this land swap that he ramming down our faces at the moment. I like to see a town hall go there and shops to go to. I’m up in age and hate to travel across or down town. But he stuck on bring jobs he making up in his head. Hopes he gets voted out next time! I want my Beulah back not his!

  6. David Huie Green on June 26th, 2018 1:57 am

    MSBU insufficient?
    Just want to spend L.O.S.T. on something other than road paving — as usual?
    Need some of that acreage for other projects?

    David for more confidence