MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – As more people move to Montgomery County, officials are taking steps to better serve the growing community.
With an increase in population comes an inevitable rise in 911 calls.
“As the county has grown, the landscape has also changed considerably,” said April DeMotts, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors “We have more people, we have more calls, we have more need of a response.”
In an effort to streamline fire and EMS departments, county officials have purchased the old FedEx building in Christiansburg and are transforming it into the emergency services headquarters.
“Out of that growth has risen the need for us to have our own space and to be able to work more effectively together and not be so spread out across the county,” said Michael Geary, chief of Montgomery County Fire and EMS.
One of the main reasons for selecting this building is its location, right off Route 460 and Interstate 81, making it centrally located for the county.
The more than $1 million investment to purchase and renovate the building has been considered for a long time as demands continue to increase across the county.
The building will house offices, space for specialized vehicles, and even a training room.
“It’s a dangerous business to be in, and so every class that you can take, every training you can attend prepares you for the emergencies that you are going to encounter,” Geary said. “So to have a space that we can bring everybody in centrally is really important to us.”
County officials said this purchase was accounted for in the budget, so it won’t affect taxpayers.
Renovations are expected to start as soon as possible.
