County, Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire dept. Sign Joint Ownership Agreement for Construction of New Station

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, August 10, 1999

As the result of a unique Memorandum of Understanding formalized today in Rockville between the County and the Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department (SSVFD) a new Station Four will be constructed to serve residents of the Sandy Spring Olney area.

Under the agreement, signed by the County and SSVD President Tom Rhodes, the new station will be jointly owned and financed by the County and the fire department. The unprecedented arrangement will allow the SSVFD to act as the County's agent for construction of the station. The corporation will also operate and maintain the facility under policies set by the Fire/Rescue Commission, as they do with the current station.

The new station, to be located at the intersection of Route 108 and Brooke Road on vacant land owned by the SSVFD, will provide all fire/rescue services and headquarters station functions provided by the existing station. In addition, the building will house a 4,000 square-foot all-purpose room that will be available for a variety of community events.

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan noted that Executive staff, the Council and the SSVFD worked diligently to make the necessary adjustments to allow the project to proceed, i.e., changes to the County Code to allow the partnership to function, changes to the Capital Improvement Program to provide funding and creating the Memorandum of Understanding.

"This arrangement is not only the first of its kind in the history of the County's fire service, it also saves the taxpayers money because the volunteer fire department will pay at least half the cost," Duncan said.

"In addition," he noted, "the corporation has the pride of ownership and the community benefits from having a new station and local meeting place." Officials hope to break ground this fall for the new Station Four, which they estimate will cost around $4 million. The design phase of the project is nearing completion, with construction bidding to follow. Actual construction is planned for 2000.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Reporters, photographers welcome at the 3 p.m. signing ceremony, Executive's Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 101 Monroe Street.

Release ID: 99-280
Media Contact: Robert Kendal 240-777-2800