The South Beach Regional Fire Authority has purchased the former Levee Lumber property in Westport.
In a release from Fire Chief Dennis Benn, he tells KXRO that their Commissioners have entered into a contract for the purchase of the Levee Lumber property, located at 805 State Route 105.
They say that negotiations for this site began in October of 2019 and closed In March 0f 2020.
The purchase price was negotiated at $375,000 to be paid off over a period of annual installments.
This property is said to alight with the South Beach Regional Fire Authority’s Strategic Plan for improved station facilities and will provide improved service and insurance ratings to a greater number of citizens in the South Beach area.
Plans to improve facilities on the South Beach are said to have started in 2009 when the City of Westport hired Emergency Services Consulting Incorporated to perform an “Emergency Masterplan” study of the Westport Fire Department. That plan identified several deficiencies of the Westport Fire Station which hindered improvement and service delivery to the citizens of the community.
According to the release, Phase 1 of a project to evaluate the current structure and determine the next steps towards a new Fire Station will begin in 2021.
They remind residents that while they have purchased the property, it is not currently manned at this time and if residents are in need of emergency assistance please call 911.
More information on the fire authority can be found at www.SBRFA.org or through their office number (360)268 9832.