Riverview, past its “bump in the road,” now knows the fate of its fire substation.

The Riverview Volunteer Fire Department is getting its new substation.

York County Council gave final approval Monday night to a financing agreement for a substation two years in the making. The decision allows the Riverview Rural Fire District to move forward with plans.

"What that means is going to go ahead with building our substation, and all that that entails to serve the far corners of our district,” said Stephen Strokis, fire tax district board member.

Riverview has plans for a substation on Grant Farm Road, which will serve areas within the district, that were far enough from the existing station to cause concern with response times and negatively affect insurance safety ratings.

The substation is expected to reduce the district’s ISO rating, which should mean lower costs for property owners who purchase fire insurance.

In recent months a counter proposal arose. York County leaders were presented an option of paying for a few city of Tega Cay firefighters who could serve the area nearby, rather than spending more money on the station. Strokis called that plan an “unexpected bump in the road.” One he and the board didn’t see as viable compared to the new station.

"I don't see how that's going to help our district," Strokis said of the Tega Cay option.

“It's our fire district. We have the responsibility to provide fire protection for the people who are paying taxes to us."

The approved financing plan allows for $1.5 million toward the substation. It won’t require a tax rate increase for the fire district.

"Everything that we've got has been budgeted with our current millage rate, it fits within our current millage rate," Strokis said.

The tax board and county are working together on financing details, which will determine when construction begins and the new substation opens.

"We've budgeted money, we've procured land, we've actually contracted with an architect on designs,” Strokis said. “We’ve done our part on our end. Now it's back to York County, to their finance."

This story was originally published November 23, 2016 at 6:54 PM with the headline "Riverview, past its “bump in the road,” now knows the fate of its fire substation.."