Dandridge Pursues Funding Options for Swannsylvania Fire Substation

The Swannslyvania community, which is a part of the Greater Dandridge Area, recently requested funding for a Fire Department Substation via the Dandridge Fire Department. The request for substation funding, at a level of $25,000 per year, was voted down by the Jefferson County Commission in a split vote. The Dandridge Volunteer Fire Department is currently serving the area and the request for County assistance came from Dandridge Fire Chief Riley. Though the issue of a substation was not approved for funding by the County Commission, the Town of Dandridge has not dismissed the idea. According to Town of Dandridge Administrator Bryan McCarter, the Town is supportive of the Dandridge Fire Department’s desire to see a substation in the Swannslyvania area and the possible eventuality of a substation in the direction of Piedmont. The Swannslyvania community has been pro active in locating a site for a substation and there is a great deal of community support for the project. McCarter stated that Dandridge is looking at funding options to make the substation a reality. The challenge is in funding that does not included city funds, as the area is outside the Town of Dandridge City limits and residents in the area do not pay city taxes. The Dandridge Fire Department supports the Greater Dandridge Area and a large portion of the calls answered by the Department are outside the city limits. According to McCarter, the Town of Dandridge is willing to commit some large scale equipment to the project and there is man power to man a substation without depleting the Dandridge Main Station. The Town will look closely at addressing the issue after the beginning of the year, with or without commitment of County funds, and hopes to find a funding avenue that is palatable to both the Town of Dandridge and the Swannslyvania community.