State questions delay funding needed to update Rocky Mount fire station

MOUNT ROCKY, North Carolina — There is no doubt that Rocky Mount Fire Station 2 is in need of a rebuild. The equipment is aging, the ceilings are leaking, the doors are broken. Conditions are so bad that firefighters from Station 2 were transferred to the city's fire department headquarters a mile away, causing delays in response times.

Fire Station 2 serves 11,100 people and is the second largest emergency response territory in the city.

Marvin Harrison, acting chief of the Rocky Mount Fire Department's Budget and Logistics Division, has a deeply personal connection to the building and project.

“It’s our home away from home,” Harrison said.

He grew up around the corner, worked as a firefighter and even lived in the building.

Now that he works in management, he prioritizes updating.

“We want to make sure we offer our firefighters a home that [is] relaxing, [they] feel comfortable, and [they] “You don't have to worry about, you know, whether two doors are going to break or whether it's going to be another leak,” Harrison said.

The city of Rocky Mount needs approval from the Local Government Commission to fund the $11 million rebuilding plan.

At a meeting Tuesday, North Carolina State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell questioned why the city funded another piece of land for economic development before considering the fire station.

“This is not a good debt management practice,” Folwell said.

Folwell also questioned the transparency of this project after city leaders chose a path that did not require commission approval.

“Having the Local Government Commission come would have brought more clarity and transparency into why this land was purchased,” Folwell said.

WRAL News asked the City of Rocky Mount about the treasurer's concerns.

The City of Rocky Mount sent the following statement:

“The City of Rocky Mount reiterates its commitment to clear and transparent communication. She uses funding to maximize taxpayer resources, ensuring that all initiatives, including rebuilding the fire station, contribute to the well-being and safety of our community.

For people who live near fire station 2, the need is present.

Harrison said with each passing day, the need becomes more remarkable.

“It's all about response time. The quicker you can respond from any given location, the more likely you are to save a life,” Harrison said.

The Local Government Commission decided to continue discussions on funding for the fire station at its July meeting.