Bob Hudson
Beach Fanatic
Walton County Facilities Maintenance Department Making Large Strides in Fire Station Improvements
Currently, the County is in the process of completing a number of repairs/renovations to several fire stations across the County.
In September of 2016, the BCC approved a request by Walton County Fire Rescue Chief Bobby Martin for the allocation of $57,000 to conduct much needed renovations to the older stations in Freeport and Paxton. Following that request, the BCC also allocated an additional almost $74,000 in January 2017 for minor renovations that were needed at other stations throughout the County. In all, the BCC approved approximately $131,000 for renovations over five months.
In March, Walton County Facilities Maintenance crews began countywide renovations with the largest being conducted at the Freeport and Paxton stations. Additionally, minor renovations are to be made to the Walton County Fire Rescue facilities in Gaskin, DeFuniak Springs, Windswept, Glendale, Redbay, Choctaw Beach and Mossy Head.
The Freeport Fire Station is in process of receiving a large scale renovation of the building. The renovation is slated to cost approximately $46,500. This new renovation will include the redesign and rebuild of the second floor which will now contain firefighter living quarters, a workout Room, bathrooms and increased storage. Repairs and smaller renovations will be made including new flooring, HVAC work, plumbing, painting and spray foam insulation. In addition, renovations to the first floor will allow the department to consolidate the stand alone EMS station with the fire station by updating bedrooms and the buildings common area.
The fire station in Paxton is also under a large renovation project. The main renovation being conducted is the framing, siding, sheetrock and trim for new living quarters. Also, the building will see walkways built between buildings, carpet replacement, painting and electrical upgrades. The renovations are estimated to cost $16,000.
In addition these two large renovations, work will be done on an additional seven stations and two EMS buildings throughout the County. While not all locations will see the same types of repairs, renovations will include cleaning, internal and external painting, carpet replacement, door replacement, roof repairs and upgrades to plumbing and HVAC systems.
Up until 2003, Walton County fire services were all provided by volunteer fire departments countywide. At that time, the County ran the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program that served the County. Beginning in 2003, Walton County transitioned from volunteer services to paid professional firefighters. As part of that transition, the County took operation of several of the volunteer fire departments and consolidated them with the current EMS services in what is now knows as Walton County Fire Rescue.
While many of the volunteer fire departments became part of Fire Rescue, there were others that wished to remain independent including Liberty Fire, Argyle Fire and South Walton Fire. Additionally, the cities of DeFuniak Springs and Freeport ran their own city fire service.
In 2014, discussion began concerning the transfer of the Freeport Fire Department to Walton County Fire rescue. After many public hearings and board meetings, the City of Freeport and the Walton County BCC came to terms and the County official took over operations of the Freeport Fire Station in January of 2015. Along with that agreement, the County was given possession of the Freeport Fire Stations facilities and the City retained ownership of the fire engines and vehicles.
Currently, the County is in the process of completing a number of repairs/renovations to several fire stations across the County.
In September of 2016, the BCC approved a request by Walton County Fire Rescue Chief Bobby Martin for the allocation of $57,000 to conduct much needed renovations to the older stations in Freeport and Paxton. Following that request, the BCC also allocated an additional almost $74,000 in January 2017 for minor renovations that were needed at other stations throughout the County. In all, the BCC approved approximately $131,000 for renovations over five months.
In March, Walton County Facilities Maintenance crews began countywide renovations with the largest being conducted at the Freeport and Paxton stations. Additionally, minor renovations are to be made to the Walton County Fire Rescue facilities in Gaskin, DeFuniak Springs, Windswept, Glendale, Redbay, Choctaw Beach and Mossy Head.
The Freeport Fire Station is in process of receiving a large scale renovation of the building. The renovation is slated to cost approximately $46,500. This new renovation will include the redesign and rebuild of the second floor which will now contain firefighter living quarters, a workout Room, bathrooms and increased storage. Repairs and smaller renovations will be made including new flooring, HVAC work, plumbing, painting and spray foam insulation. In addition, renovations to the first floor will allow the department to consolidate the stand alone EMS station with the fire station by updating bedrooms and the buildings common area.
The fire station in Paxton is also under a large renovation project. The main renovation being conducted is the framing, siding, sheetrock and trim for new living quarters. Also, the building will see walkways built between buildings, carpet replacement, painting and electrical upgrades. The renovations are estimated to cost $16,000.
In addition these two large renovations, work will be done on an additional seven stations and two EMS buildings throughout the County. While not all locations will see the same types of repairs, renovations will include cleaning, internal and external painting, carpet replacement, door replacement, roof repairs and upgrades to plumbing and HVAC systems.
Up until 2003, Walton County fire services were all provided by volunteer fire departments countywide. At that time, the County ran the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program that served the County. Beginning in 2003, Walton County transitioned from volunteer services to paid professional firefighters. As part of that transition, the County took operation of several of the volunteer fire departments and consolidated them with the current EMS services in what is now knows as Walton County Fire Rescue.
While many of the volunteer fire departments became part of Fire Rescue, there were others that wished to remain independent including Liberty Fire, Argyle Fire and South Walton Fire. Additionally, the cities of DeFuniak Springs and Freeport ran their own city fire service.
In 2014, discussion began concerning the transfer of the Freeport Fire Department to Walton County Fire rescue. After many public hearings and board meetings, the City of Freeport and the Walton County BCC came to terms and the County official took over operations of the Freeport Fire Station in January of 2015. Along with that agreement, the County was given possession of the Freeport Fire Stations facilities and the City retained ownership of the fire engines and vehicles.
