West Sebring VFD plans new firehouse

The Sebring City Council will consider Tuesday staff recommendation to approve fire protection services to a yet-to-be-built West Sebring Volunteer Fire Department building at 3501 Hammock Road in Sebring.

The planned firehouse building will be in need of a fire hydrant and a fire sprinkler system, according to an agenda item for the meeting, and as a result, the property could one day become subject to annexation.

The city's ordinance states, "Fire hydrants, sprinkler systems, standpipes and other devices used exclusively for fire protection shall not be installed outside the city unless specifically approved by the city council.

"The costs of any repairs performed by the city on such fire protection devices shall be reimbursed by the parties served."

According to an accompanying Declaration of Covenants between Highlands County Board of County Commissioners and the city, when the property becomes contiguous to city limits, it is subject to annexation, and the declaration of covenants would be considered a petition to the city for such annexation.

The document was signed on Feb. 9 by Clerk of Courts Bob Germaine and Don Bates, BOCC chair.

According to a letter from Emergency Operations Director Tim Eures, the Highlands County Emergency Medical Services will also locate an ambulance crew at the same location, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"This should provide better response times to not only the county but the citizens of Sebring as well," Eures wrote.

Hookup costs are $704 for a 1-inch water meter, $1,577 in connection fees, and $490 for the fire-line providing up to 500 gallons of water per minute.

The county will be responsible for the $40 monthly fee for the fire hydrant and $10.65 per month for the fire protection, as well as charges for the amount of water used and any other monthly fees assessed by the utilities department.

The county will pay for the purchase of the hydrant and for the labor and materials.