To say space is tight at the current Adairville Fire Hall is an understatement.

“It is so crowded and cumbersome getting the trucks in and out,” said Adairville Mayor Jim Wilkerson.

City Fire Chief Jim Trimble agreed. “All these new trucks are too tall,” he added.

“It’s a pretty big need,” Rural Fire Chief Larry McComas said of getting a new fire hall for the city.

Because of this need, city leaders, firefighters and volunteers are going to be working hard to qualify for a grant that could allow the city to build a new, larger building for the city and rural fire departments.

At a meeting Thursday evening, firefighters and others learned more about this grant which is administered through the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD). Magistrate Harold Prince found out about the grant and told Adairville leaders that it might be worth looking into.

In order to even have a shot at the grant, a survey of local households must be conducted. Trimble said they will have to get 350 completed surveys and that will involve going to homes all around south Logan that are randomly selected by a computer.

At the Adairville City Council meeting last week, council member and volunteer firefighter Danny Finch explained that the surveys would ask about number of people in the household, ethnicity and income. Whether or not Adairville gets the grant will be largely based on the income in the area.

Trimble said he understands that some people might be hesitant to complete portions of the survey – especially the income part – but in order for Adairville to qualify for the grant the city must present 350 fully completed surveys.

"We need the completed surveys," Trimble said. "It hurts us if people don't fill them out."

Since so much work must be done just for a chance at the grant, the meeting Thursday night was held to see if there was enough support to proceed. The response was very positive.

"Everybody's on board and everybody's very excited about it," McComas said.

Trimble said they will begin taking the surveys soon. Organizers agreed that it would be best if those taking the surveys are wearing their uniforms and perhaps go out in official vehicles to that people know they are legitimate. Trimble said they don't want people to think it is some kind of scam and they are trying to spread the word so that people in south Logan will understand what is going on and why they are being asked to complete these surveys.

About the only way the city can get a new fire hall, Trimble said, is if we get a grant.

"If we can get this it would be a great thing," he said.