Pennington County Commissioners have removed the final stumbling block for the construction of a new Rockerville Fire Station on Neck Yoke Road.

On Tuesday, the commissioners agreed to take ownership of the building site from the Rockerville Rural Fire Protection District and authorized the State's Attorneys office to use condemnation proceedings, if necessary, to remove restrictive covenants prohibiting the location of the fire station on the property.

The Rockerville Fire Protection District has tried for more than three years to relocate a second station on a new site adjacent to Neck Yoke Road and Coyote Flats Road in Kieffer Ranch Estates. A restrictive covenant covers a portion of their property.

"We have three fence sitters," Paul Smith, chief of the Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department told commissioners. "We have 10 signatures, and we need 12."

The fire protection district purchased the land with the hope of winning landowners' approval to remove the covenant on the property. The covenant prohibits commercial buildings.

There are 15 lots in the subdivision. Two-thirds of the property owners have signed off on the fire station, but it takes signatures from three-fourths of the landowners to circumvent the covenant. The lack of two signatures stands in the way of fire station.

Smith said fire district representatives have held public hearings in the area and met with property owners.

Smith is optimistic that the commissioners' action will persuade property owners reluctant to waive the covenant to sign off on the waiver.

"It's been our goal all along to stay away from the eminent domain process," Smith said.

Smith said relocating Rockerville's Station 2 is part of the fire protection district's long-range plan. The station is currently a 32-by-32-feet structure built into a hill along Neck Yoke Road. The station was erected in 1972 using timbers salvaged from a Spring Creek bridge destroyed in the 1972 flood.

The station's location, almost on the road and near a curve, makes it hazardous to pull trucks out when responding to a call, he said.

"It takes a lot of extra caution," Smith said. "We've had some close calls."

The building's size also limits the department's ability to park fire apparatuses in the building. A brush truck and a smaller structure engine are housed in the station. The new station site is a mile away and would allow the district to build a bigger structure capable of housing more equipment.

Expanding fire protection services on the east side of Rockerville Gulch is important, Smith said. The area has grown "exponentially" since the station was built 36 years ago.

The Rockerville district covers 63 square miles, serving about 2,500 people with about 750 homes. The gulch is a natural barrier dividing the district. A second station on the east side of the gulch cuts down response time for firefighters answering a call and the fire trucks, Smith said.

The fire protection district evaluated three sites before buying property, Smith said. The property they bought was identified as the best option, he said. The district is also aware of the importance of being a good neighbor.

"It's our goal to come up with a building that's aesthetically pleasing in the neighborhood and functional for our needs," Smith said.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com