What is the True Story of What is Going to Happen at the Beulah Fire Station?

Some folks on Facebook had speculated on what is going on with Escambia County's Station 2 in Beulah, and unfortunately their speculation was not on point.  So I corrected the record there, and I am going to do likewise here.

First--the BCC voted more than a year ago to purchase the BVFD property upon which Station 2 sits.

For the last year + we have worked to get all the documentation necessary for the title company to be able to close the sale.  It has been a long process, and it is not yet completed.  It is my understanding that now we are on the cusp of getting this transaction finalized.  First American Title is handling this transaction and beginning this week the County Attorney's Office will be calling daily to check progress.  Daily.

Meanwhile--folks are wondering what the modernization of Station 2 will look like.  Here is what I say to that question and also to the question of who it is that will staff that station.  Again, I want to be clear and I want to be on record as the Commissioner from that district and a 15-year resident of Beulah---from facebook:


"The volunteer firefighters from station 2 have worked very hard with their attorney to help us get the deal closed over the last year. It has been a long and circuitous process. The BCC voted to buy the station over one year ago---and so that part is a done deal--and it has been for quite some time. As is the funding of $2.5 Million to modernize that facility. As of my conversation this past week 
with our County Atttorney--the title company is now officially the pinch-point and I have requested our RE attorney, Steve West, to make DAILY calls until we close the deal. Then we will engage an A&E firm to design what will happen next on that property. It will be modernized, there will be showers and bunks and a proper kitchen and meeting space for the personnel, and most importantly ------ This station will remain a volunteer station, with the Beulah Volunteer Fire Department transitioning from owning the property to being a tenant on what will be our newest county property. But volunteers will continue to run that station. And I will not support ANY moves to bring in paid staff to this facility so long as the volunteers continue to do an excellent job and unless they, the volunteers, request day shift coverage or enhanced coverage utilizing paid fire personnel. I support all firefighters and I have tremendous respect and admiration for volunteer firefighters in particular.  So, that is where this stands."

As it pertains to what the $2.5 Million will do:

"We have a $2.5 million budget. my plan is to engage an A&E firm to tell us what we can do with that utilizing the property and what’s currently on the property and that money in order to have a modernized facility. that’s what it means to me unless we have additional funds—which I’ll be looking for as well"