Davidson commissioners approved converting a part-time firefighter post at Station 1 to full-time coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027, at their Oct. 27 meeting, according to Lake Norman Publications.
The around-the-clock post requires three employees. The current budget can absorb the change, but future funding and a proposed fiscal 2028 conversion at Station 2 remain budget decisions. Chief Ryan Monteith cited increasing difficulty filling part-time shifts.
Commissioners also approved breathing equipment largely covered by a $270,000 federal grant. A separate $817,460 commitment for design and construction documents for a new Station 1 at Griffith and Watson streets was set for a Nov. 10 decision, rather than approved Oct. 27.
The board advanced engineering for the Beaty Sidepath: a mile-long, 10-foot-wide route on Beaty Street’s east side between Griffith and North Main streets. The estimated cost is $3.49 million, with federal funds covering 60%.
Engineering and right-of-way work could take up to four years, project manager Doug Wright said, though he hoped for a shorter timeline. The connecting Potts-Sloan-Beaty project, including the Griffith-Beaty roundabout, is scheduled for September 2027 completion.
