The men and women of McCord’s Fire Department announced back in February that they intended to open a new sub-station in the Osceola community of East Central Cherokee County. Since that time, the department has been raising funds to make that project a reality. Last week, the department was presented a check from Governor Kay Ivey’s Departmental Emergency Fund in the amount of $50,000 to complete the construction of the station.

 

According to Chief Rich Lindsey, members of the Alexis, Kirks Grove, and Osceola communities have wanted a fire station closer to them for more than 20 years. However, it was the donation of the land and building by Richard and Johna Lindsey and Brent Tidwell that really got the project started. Over the last couple of years, the department has secured $33,000 in the form of a grant from the USDA’s office of Rural Development and collected more than $27,000 in contributions from the community.

 

“We had originally planned to start construction and go as far as our funding would allow,” stated Chief Lindsey, “However, this crucial and timely funding provided by Governor Ivey will allow us to complete the construction of the new facility!” “Response times are critical when lives are at stake,” said Chief Lindsey, “and this facility will decrease response times to more than 1,000 residents of the Alexis,Osceola, and Kirks Grove communities, allowing the department to provide enhanced fire and rescue services to these areas.”

 

Chief Lindsey went on to say, “This project would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of the community and the hard work of the members of McCord’s Fire Department!” Patricia Sherman, an archi tect from Gadsden, Alabama, has completed the station design, and Complete Construction, LLC of Albertville, Alabama, has been awarded the project.

 

The department expects to break ground within the next 6 months and complete the project within the next

year. Chief Lindsey added that if you have not had the opportunity to get involved and assist with the project, there is still time. The department is accepting applications for volunteers living in the area surrounding the new station and any additional donations for the project will be used to equip the facility.

 

Anyone wanting to help with or needing more information about this project can contact Chief Rich Lindsey by phone at 256-484-1229 or by email at rich_lindsey@cherokeegin.com.

 

The department wishes to offer its sincere gratitude to Governor Ivey for recognizing the need to provide fire and rescue services in the rural communities of

Cherokee County and to Representative Richard Lindsey for his assistance in securing this funding.