TITLE
Title
conduct public hearing and allow Parcel transfer from the Colfax Fire Protection District to the Deep River Fire Service District
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Jim Albright, Emergency Services Director (Mark Payne)
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BACKGROUND
Background
Properties that are currently within the Colfax Fire Protection Service District Overlay (“Colfax Service District”) but more than five (5) road miles from Colfax Volunteer Fire Department fire station will be moved into the No. 18 (Deep River) Fire Service District Overlay (“Deep River Service District”). By doing so, these properties will be served by a much closer City of High Point fire station which serves the Deep River Service District. In addition to reducing the distance to the responding station, this will avoid an insurance classification downgrade of these properties.
The present Colfax and Deep River Service Districts are served, respectively, by the Colfax Volunteer Fire Department and the High Point Fire Department. Due to growth and annexation patterns, a satellite fire station formerly owned and operated by the Colfax Volunteer Fire Department was acquired by the City of High Point on July 1, 2005. That satellite station, now owned and operated by the City of High Point, is near the southern portion of the Colfax Service District. Without that fire station, some properties within the Colfax Service District are now more than five (5) road miles from the Colfax Volunteer Fire Department’s responding fire station.
The City of High Point provides the fire protection for the Deep River Service District, which adjoins the Colfax Service District. The City of High Point is amenable to adding the properties affected by this realignment to the Deep River Service District and to providing fire protection to them pursuant to its contract with Guilford County.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal has indicated that because the affected properties are presently more than five (5) road miles from the responsible fire department’s nearest station, they are likely to face an insurance classification downgrade, absent corrective action.
Both the Colfax Volunteer Fire Department and the High Point Fire Department carry excellent ratings.
A map showing the current and proposed boundaries of the Colfax Service District and the Deep River Service District is attached.
The Colfax Service District and the Deep River Service District adjoin and were established for substantially similar purposes, namely fire protection (to include emergency medical and rescue). The proposed boundary relocation meets the requirements of N.C.G.S. 153A-304.3.
Fire protection services (to include emergency medical and rescue) for the area affected by the proposed relocation of district boundaries will be provided by the City of High Point by contract with Guilford County. Funding for these services will come from the special service district tax levied on the Deep River Service District. Automatic aid and mutual aid will be provided by other fire departments under contract with Guilford County.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
The area of transfer will receive the rate established by the Board of Commissioners for FY 2021-22 for the Deep River Fire Service District instead of the Colfax Fire Protection Service District.
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Conduct a public hearing and adopt resolution, pursuant to N.C.G.S. 153A-304.3, to allow the transfer of parcels from the Colfax Service District to the Deep River Service District, serviced by the High Point Fire Department, and change the Rural Fire Protection District boundaries and fire insurance district to match under SL 1973-263 and N.C.G.S. 153A-233, effective July 1, 2022.
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