AHOSKIE – At the very least, the Town of Ahoskie has gotten plenty of mileage from the oldest building it owns that remains in continuous use.

On Tuesday, the Ahoskie Town Council voted to accept the conditions of a loan/grant from USDA Rural Development that will pay for the construction of a new facility to house the town’s fire department.

Town Manager Tony Hammond said he’s hopeful that ground can be broken in June on the new fire station, to be located at the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Sunset Street, across from the old VEPCO building.

The current fire station is located on McGlohon Street in a building that also once housed the Town Hall and Police Department. It has been in use since the 1930’s.

Hammond said the new, $1.87 million facility will be 12,000 square feet, to include three, double capacity truck bays and sleeping quarters (the department operates 24/7 year round).

USDA Area Specialist Monica Thornton was on hand at Tuesday’s meeting to present and outline the letter of conditions from her organization. USDA Rural Development will extend a loan to the town for $1,823,000 and provide a $50,000 grant. The term of the loan is 30 years at a 3.25 percent interest rate.

Included in the loan/grant is the cost of the actual construction ($1.466 million) as well as land purchase ($85,000 from Ease Lassiter), equipment ($64,500), legal services ($5,000), architect/engineering fees ($132,014), construction interest ($24,000), contingencies ($73,341) and other costs ($22,800).