BY CAROL MOSLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
HAMPTON — Hampton City Council voted to lease the former fire station to Funtastic Fire Brigade.
Michael Heeder presented his ideas for use of the space, which were met with excitement by the council, at the previous meeting. Now it was time to put pen to paper and sign the lease agreement.
The business, with Heeder as business manager, will pay $50 per month for lease of the property. The business will cover the cost of improvements, insurance, utilities and interior upkeep. The city of Hampton will be responsible for exterior maintenance.
This new lease relieves Bradford County from the lease it had on the building, since the fire station is now operating out of Sampson City and the county no longer needs use of the property.
Heeder is planning to make numerous improvements so that the facility can be used for events and training sessions. The building also needs to be prepped to house his “toys;” the revamped firetrucks, ambulance, and other equipment, such as adult and kid sized wearable gear. Heeder wants to use his retirement, after 38 years of experience, to share his passion for both fun and firefighting.
Hampton will reach its centennial in 2025, and Heeder imagines a special celebration that will draw crowds to the city. Other community events he wants to offer include CPR training and fire safety classes, and even possibilities ranging from food banks to toy drives.
Grants help city survive and thrive
City Clerk Mary Lou Hildreth stays busy submitting grant proposals to fund the various community needs and projects. This month the construction will begin on phase two of a water looping project that will eliminate dead ends in the system. Funded by Suwanee River Water Management District and DEP, this grant will replace old meters with new automated readers.
Other proposals awaiting executed contracts include funding for a new backup well for the water system, new culverts and ditches in the Hampton Villas neighborhood, and paving for the parking lot at Bobby Shepherd Memorial Park.
Clerk Hildreth says she’ll be applying for $100,000 from FDEP’s Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. If funded, the grant will be used for upgrades to Hampton’s two parks.
