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  Plantation Alliance Donates 6 Acres to Merriwether Fire Department in Mt. Vintage web posted September 19, 2012 MERRIWETHER – With the growing population of the Merriwether area the Merriwether Fire Department is doing its best to keep up with adding the number of needed fire stations in the district to provide proper coverage, which in turns substantially lowers fire insurance costs to area residents. Plantation Alliance owner Mike Hooker made that expansion a lot cheaper by donating 6 acres of property in Mt. Vintage to the Merriwether Fire Department. Mr. Hooker said the property is located across from the Mt. Vintage Community Center at a location he and Merriwether Fire Chief Joey Smith picked out and they have been in discussions about the property for some time. Hooker added that prior attempts by Chief Smith with the developer and the home owners association to find a location never materialized. That is when Plantation Alliance stepped forward and donated the land. Mr. Hooker said his company is not affiliated with the developers, they own the golf course, community center, and surrounding property, including the 6 acre tract being donated. "The construction of a new fire station here at Mount Vintage is a win/win for all," Mr. Hooker said. He added the benefit reaches out beyond the development by helping the fire department, "significantly improve their services to their district, the county and the Mt. Vintage community." That thought was echoed by Merriwether Fire Chief Joey Smith. "The Merriwether Fire Dept. is very excited about the land donation and the building of a fire station in Mt Vintage. It has been a two year search and we finally found a usable parcel and have acquired it thanks to Plantation Alliance," Fire Chief Joey Smith said. "At the present time we are in the planning stages because of the uniqueness of the station, we will have to hire an architect to design it to mirror the Town Center. We want it to be an asset not only as an emergency response station but add to the beauty of Mt. Vintage. We would hope that the construction could start sometime in 2013 depending on financing." "The station will be constructed with two bays and will house an engine (pumper) and an EMS type first response vehicle," Chief Smith said. Mr. Hooker said there was more to having a station located inside the development than just the feeling of security. "Having a beautiful fire station with full EMS services, centrally located in a community like Mount Vintage is terrific. Kids and adults love fire stations, they’re fun to visit, and they’re comforting with a sense of security for all in the community. In my opinion, fire stations are very American and very patriotic." Chief Smith said that the last ISO rating showed the Merriwether Fire Department needed to add four additional stations to reduce residents fire insurance rates. "The Mt. Vintage station is the large piece of the puzzle that will eliminate one of those stations. Adding this station in Mt. Vintage will benefit all those covered in our district," he said. "We at Merriwether Fire Department strive everyday to provide the best service we can for the citizens we serve. The construction of to Mt. Vintage station and the Sweetwater station are for the people," Smith said. "We know it is a large capital outlay for the department; however the savings in insurance will be realized in insurance premium reductions (for residents)." The second station is being added at the 4 acre tract of property being given to the county by the Cooper family that was recently announced. Mr. Hooker would not give a value of the property other than to say it is, "premier property overlooking the golf course." Edgefield County Concilman Rodney Ashcraft who represets the area said, "I was pleased to hear that such a donation was made. I know that Joey (Smith) and Mike (Hooker) had been talking because I was there and involved in the beginning. However I had not heard anything in a while. This is great for the surrounding communities but another advantage is that the volunteers associated with this fire station will be able to expeditiously serve communities to the north including the Rainsford Road area despite the discrepancies in fire district lines." © Copyright 2012 All material is property of
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