With construction on two new fire stations expected to begin in late September or early October, the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department will soon be able to increase emergency response times across its 180-square-mile service area in Montgomery County.
Assistant MVFD Fire Chief Kevin Walters said the department has begun working with Bass Construction to build the future Station No. 188 to be located north of Magnolia on FM 149 and Station No. 189 on FM 1486 in Montgomery. Both stations are expected to be complete next August.
A third new location—Station No. 187—is also planned for Pinehurst near FM 1774 and FM 149, but Walters said the utilities must be completed before building construction can begin.
“We’re in the works with that one,” Walters said. “We’re getting some water lines installed out there prior to starting work, so it’s been a delay. We expect [construction] to follow shortly.”
Funding for stations is supported through Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 10, which manages funding for MVFD by collecting a portion of sales tax revenue within the district.
In May 2014, voters approved a 1 cent sales and use tax increase for the district, excluding the Magnolia city limits and the Westwood Magnolia Parkway Improvement District. From January to August 2015, ESD No. 10 has received an estimated $1.7 million in sales tax revenue, according to data from the Texas comptroller’s office.
“In the past, we’ve had delays because the fire engine for downtown Magnolia would be on a run and another emergency would come in. But now with all of the stations staffed, we’re able to reduce our response times and we’re doing great.”
—Kevin Walters, assistant MVFD fire chief
The additional revenue from ESD No. 10 has also allowed MVFD to hire 20 new part-time employees to staff MVFD’s six stations in Montgomery County, Walters said. In 2014, the department was only able to fully staff four stations, which caused delays in response times, he said.
“In the past, we’ve had delays because the fire engine for downtown Magnolia would be on a run and another emergency would come in,” Walters said. “But now with all of the stations staffed, we’re able to reduce our response times and we’re doing great.”
The sales tax increase also extends to any future areas annexed into the city, including the proposed 142-acre Magnolia Commons mixed-use development, which was annexed into city limits last June. City officials estimate the development could generate an additional $500,000 in sales tax revenue for MVFD each year at build-out within the next few years.
"What [MVFD] did by taking that extra [sales tax revenue] would just eliminate our ability to ever grow," Magnolia Mayor Todd Kana said.
However, Walters said MVFD has not yet made plans to use the potential additional revenue Magnolia Commons could generate.
“We don’t try to set our budget on what can happen in the future,” Walters said. “We’re just excited about the income that we have now to help in the community."
With construction on two new fire stations expected to begin in late September or early October, the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department will soon be able to increase emergency response times across its 180-square-mile service area in Montgomery County.
Assistant MVFD Fire Chief Kevin Walters said the department has begun working with Bass Construction to build the future Station No. 188 to be located north of Magnolia on FM 149 and Station No. 189 on FM 1486 in Montgomery. Both stations are expected to be complete next August.
A third new location—Station No. 187—is also planned for Pinehurst near FM 1774 and FM 149, but Walters said the utilities must be completed before building construction can begin.
“We’re in the works with that one,” Walters said. “We’re getting some water lines installed out there prior to starting work, so it’s been a delay. We expect [construction] to follow shortly.”
Funding for stations is supported through Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 10, which manages funding for MVFD by collecting a portion of sales tax revenue within the district.
In May 2014, voters approved a 1 cent sales and use tax increase for the district, excluding the Magnolia city limits and the Westwood Magnolia Parkway Improvement District. From January to August 2015, ESD No. 10 has received an estimated $1.7 million in sales tax revenue, according to data from the Texas comptroller’s office.
