While there is no immediate plans to do away with either fire station, Smith said following today’s budget work session, “It was just some questions. It’s going to require a lot more investigation.”

The fire department prides itself on its quick response time, the chief said, with 80 percent of the calls being answered better than 5 minutes. “Any fire you have in seven minutes a house can be engulfed.”

Weldon’s fire department has paid members and volunteers along with part-time firefighters who receive no benefits. There are 23 volunteers in the department which has a $195,000 budget.

Beginning firefighters make $21,500 and rookies are asked to be drivers and handle incident command, Bolt said. “The reason they do it is they love what they do.”

One of the dangers in losing one of its stations would mean losing ISO rating points. The fire department currently has a 5 rating and if it should go to 7 that would mean higher homeowner insurance costs, the chief said.

A homeowner could see a $300 to $400 increase in insurance costs a year, Bolt said, while the costs to the cogeneration plant, country club and businesses in the industrial park would be tremendous.

Annexation of several areas has already meant the fire department has lost money by taking them out of the fire district, Bolt explained. The country club annexation meant the fire district lost $2,160.

When the cogeneration is taken into the town limits next year that will be $32,190 not coming into the district, Bolt said.

Over the last five years the fire department has continually cut its budget, Bolt told the board. “If we cut any more we’re going to start getting where we’re over budget.”