Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The City of Locust is looking into the possibility of entering into a contract for fire service with West Stanly Fire Department.

City Administrator Cesar Correa said Thursday during the city council meeting he had spoken with Chief Dakota Raborn.

The majority of the city limits is serviced by West Stanly though portions of Locust are also serviced by Midland Fire and Rescue and Georgeville Volunteer Fire Department, both of which are based in Cabarrus County. If a change were to occur, the proceeds from the rural tax rates that were collected by Midland and Georgeville would be redirected and instead collected by West Stanly.

Correa said about 20 percent of the city’s assessed valuation, totaling $92 million, is inside Cabarrus County.

The two fire departments have slightly lower tax rates than West Stanly Fire, which was recently approved to go to 11 cents. Georgeville is at $.092 and Midland is $.10, Correa said.

Several council members wanted the issue to be further investigated, to make sure the city can legally make such a change, but seemed initially receptive to the idea.

“In anything like this, there are a lot of things that need to be looked at,” Councilman Harry Fletcher said. “With what little bit I know about it, it sounds like it makes sense.”

Councilman Michael Haigler said it would be important to speak with residents in the areas serviced by the departments, as they would be the ones most impacted.

“If they support it, I have no issue with it, but I would first want to hear from those people in those areas because I already live in West Stanly’s district,” Haigler said.

In other news:

• The council approved a special event application for Buzzed Viking Brewing Company to host a Halloween event, Skoltober Festival, on Oct. 30 from noon until 5 p.m. on the lawn behind City Hall. There will be live music, food trucks, beer, funnel cakes, numerous vendors and axe throwing.

The event will also serve as a soft opening as Buzzed Viking will debut several items, including a few drinks, that patrons can expect once the business opens in the coming weeks.

• Police Chief Jeff Shew introduced Timmy Hartsell, the newest Locust police officer, who joined the force in late September. Having been in law enforcement since 2009, Hartsell, who is from Stanfield and grew up in Midland, previously was part of the Albemarle Police Department and served a short stint with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.