Belmont VFD Breaks Ground
Turning the earth at the future site of the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department’s new station Tuesday afternoon were several current and past members of the department along, with the state director of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Evangelist Kim McFarland opened the ceremony with a heartfelt invocation.
The new station will be constructed at 101 N. John Street on an open lot purchased from the late Joel Stern’s family. Fire chief Bob Mills said, “This was the first big step in order to move forward with the fire station”.
Mills thanked Donna Riggs, Canton based grant writer, “who was a big help in getting this thing rolling”.
“She introduced us to a grant, that we had no idea was out there, through (former Congressman) Bill Johnson who chose this project for funding while former Senator Sherrod Brown also supported the project.”
Current State Senator Brian Chavez and former State Representative Don Jones were also singled out, having secured $1 million in state funding for the project.
Finally, Mills expressed appreciation to Ricky Burkhead, village fiscal officer, and T.J. Schultz, village solicitor, who secured local financing from Woodsfield Savings Bank to cover unanticipated additional expenses that may come about during the construction of the new station.
State USDA Director Charles Tassell said, “USDA is the only federal agency focused on rural America, and we understand rural America is central to our national economy, health and well-being.”
“Our mission is to invest in high quality rural, modern, reliable community infrastructure which is critical for rural prosperity and quality of life.”
Noting that USDA is honored to partner with the community of Belmont and its fire department, Tassell added that the current administration is “very supportive of all first responders but fire fighters do have a special place in our heart.”
The $3.4 million project will be funded largely by 75 percent USDA and 25 percent by the state.
Following the ceremony, Lt. Kaye Hall shared that funding deadlines require the project to be completed within one year.
Also on hand for the ceremony were Belmont County commissioners, Jerry Echemann and Vince Gianangeli, along with officials of the design team from McCall Sharp Architecture, LTD. from Springfield, Ohio, and general contractor Colaianni Construction, Inc. of Dillonvale.
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