Forks of the River companies to negotiate for fire protections services

Forks of the River companies to negotiate for fire protections services

By HARLOW SUMERFORD
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- If A plan currently in front of Knox County Commission is approved, the county would no longer serve as the middle man between Rural/Metro and Forks of the River Industrial Park businesses.

Instead, individual companies would negotiate their own deals.

"We aren't so much interested in how fire protection is funded, just that it is funded. If a significant number of those properties do not sign contracts, then we have to replace revenue somehow or we have to reduce expenses," says Rural/Metro Fire Chief Jerry Harnish.

Simply put, nearly all the companies in the park need to be on board or Chief Harnish says they would be forced to close the fire station at the park.

Companies like Aqua-Chem are optimistic that won't happen.

"I can't speak on behalf of all the businesses. I know that our business will enter into a subscription and I know 12 to 14 of the companies that attended the majority of the meetings that were held have agreed to enter into contracts where applicable," says Aqua-Chem President David Gensterblum.

If Rural/Metro decides to close the Forks of the River fire station, the next closest station is about seven miles away on Strawberry Plains Pike.

"We've timed it from the other location. The Strawberry Plains fire house is probably about eight and a half to nine minutes for a call from that station. So it is not very polarizing, going from one extreme to the other. I mean, we are talking maybe a matter of a four minutes variance," Gensterblum says.

He's hopeful the new way will save Aqua-Chem money. Either way, he says it makes sense for private companies to handle the negotiations without the county's involvement.

According to Chief Harnish, fire protection services will cost companies roughly 11 cents per square foot each year.

If a company doesn't enter into contract with Rural/Metro, that doesn't mean Rural/Metro wouldn't respond to a fire. The company would have to pay for services after the fact.

Knox County Commission still has to approve the new agreement at the full commission meeting in October.