By ELENA MARSH
Staff Writer
Moore County and Eagle Springs officials recently cut the ribbon on the completed Eagle Springs Fire Department, designed to accommodate department and emergency services employees for years to come.
“Let me tell you, we went through every different scenario that we could to build this building,” said Eagle Springs Fire Chief Mike St. Onge. “Money was a big deciding factor for everything that we wanted to put into the building so that it would last us for 30 years.”
Funding came from several sources: $1 million came from the General Assembly, and the county helped with an extra $800 to reach the full amount needed to start building. Later in construction, St. Onge was able to secure a loan of $800,000 from Randolph Electric with a 1 percent interest rate.
“ Basically the bill is paid for,” said St. Onge.
The employees of Eagle Springs Public Safety thanked elected officials, State Sen. Tom McInnis and State Rep. Neal Jackson as well as former Rep. Jamie Boles. They thanked the Moore County Board of Commissioners as well as County Manager Wayne Vest for helping to secure funding for the project. All of the notable attendees were given a plaque to commemorate the ribbon-cutting.
“ Look at what we’ve got. We are just in wonderful shape,” said St. Onge. “Our trucks are in great shape, we’re almost 50 members strong and all volunteers. I just have to say thank you, and thank you to all of our members.”
With the upgrades, the department now features an EMS base, which will supplement medical emergencies farther out in the county.
Contact Elena Marsh at (910) 693-2484 or elena@thepilot.com.
