January 02, 2013 BETHLEHEM — The dream of a North Country fire training facility is closer to reality. At a December 19 meeting, the Executive Council approved the $165,000 purchase of old U.S. Forest Service property on Trudeau Rd.
Area chiefs have long hoped for a nearby area for fire fighters to train. The state's only such fire training facility is in Concord. Departments all around the North Country will be able to cut their commute substantially when the Bethlehem site is up and running.
In a statement, Commissioner of Safety John Barthelmes wrote about the need to cut training commutes for departments in our region. He stated that the roundtrip to Concord "puts an extreme burden on local communities in the North Country."
Barthelmes also noted that the closer facility keeps firefighters near their towns. This would be important in the event of an emergency in their town.
The Council approved the purchase without discussion. Last week, Sugar Hill Fire Chief Allan Clark said that the closing on the property should be completed soon.
Two bridge projects were also approved at the council's meeting. The first project would make surface and other improvements to the north and southbound bridges of I-93, which are approximately 700 feet long. The other bridge repair effort would install scour countermeasures on the I-93 bridge as well as the Route 18 bridge.
As part of the roadwork, the Department of Transportation was authorized to enter into an Interstate Bridge Agreement with Vermont. This will allow the department to bill Vermont for its share of engineering and construction work incurred by New Hampshire.
After the Council conducted normal business, there were some farewells. This was the last meeting that Governor John Lynch will have with the Council. On January 3, Maggie Hassan will become our new governor.
As he said goodbye to Lynch, District 1 Executive Councilor Ray Burton once again referred to the Council's meeting area as "the people's table." Burton said that Lynch was the ninth governor he has served with as a member of the Executive Council.
Burton found time for humor, too, based on Lynch's record as the longest serving governor in New Hampshire history. The councilor informed his colleagues, "I thought Lynch was never going to leave."
Warm thanks were given Lynch in Burton's concluding remarks. To the governor, Burton said, "You have treated each one of us with dignity and respect."
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