Denver Fire Department is contending that despite calling a meeting to meet with Catawba County to discuss fire service in the southeastern part of the county, no one from the county attended the specially called meeting.

Catawba County issued a press release just prior to 5 p.m. saying that the Sherrills Ford/Terrell Fire & Rescue Department was prepared to expand into the district.
    According to the Denver Fire Department, the Catawba County Emergency Services Director David Weldon told Denver Fire Chief Jay Flynn in an e-mail that the county was not willing to accept a fire tax of more than .0389 cents.
    "This is an unacceptable proposal and at this time Denver Fire Department will continue forward with plans to cease service to Catawba County on June 30, 2008," the release from Keri Wright, the Denver Fire Department Public Information Officer, said.
    Catawba County contends in its release that the Sherrills Ford station has plans for a new station that would serve the three areas that Denver is currently serving.
    The county also contends that land "would be donated and plans have begun for construction of a temporary station that would go into service on July 1, 2008."
    The Catawba County Board of Commissioners will receive an update on this issue on Wednesday at 10 a.m.

    For a more in-depth story on fire service in the southeast, see Thursday's Observer News Enterprise.