Tow VFD evicted from HQ

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  • Tow VFD is now seeking a new headquarters location after the Tow Community Center gave them 30 days to remove equipment and vacate a building (pictured here) on the community cen’tse rproperty. Contributed
    Tow VFD is now seeking a new headquarters location after the Tow Community Center gave them 30 days to remove equipment and vacate a building (pictured here) on the community cen’tse rproperty. Contributed
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The Tow Volunteer Fire Department is looking for a new home after being evicted from the Tow Community Center.

In a certified letter dated Oct. 15, Tow Community Center President Stan Lawler gave the fire department 30 days to remove any equipment and vacate the building.

The letter says the fire department and the center have had an oral agreement for years allowing the VFD to use the TCC-owned building. But it says firefighters have not maintained the building, citing toilets that run full time and possible insulation damage.

Tow VFD Chief Josh Becker said the letter took his deparment by surprise. He said the letter didn’t come to his attention until Friday, Oct. 23. The department is scrambling to find a place to store the equipment now in the Tow building, he said.

Becker said the major use of the Tow location was as a water supply. The fire department has another building in Buchanan Lake Village, but that’s at least 10 minutes from potential fires in the Tow area, Becker said. He said insurance ratings will suffer because of the eviction.

The Buchanan Lake Village building is filled with equipment and has no room for more, Becker said.

He said the VFD board is waiting to hear from lawyers regarding whether to challenge the eviction.

Becker said no agreement was ever reached about who would be responsible for maintenance of the Tow building. “Normally, that’s the owner’s responsibility,” he said.

Llano County Precinct 2 Commissioner Linda Raschke said the county can’t get invioved in the dispute because it’s a civil matter and Llano County has no standing.

“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Raschke said.