UPDATE: Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co. receives hefty estimate for phone service relocation

Lissette Nuñez,

UPDATE: Verizon releases statement regarding Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company

Building a new fire company has been an ongoing project for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company for the past eight years, but  officials tell us that recently this project has hit a road-block. That's because of a very hefty estimate to relocate a vital service for their operations.

"They want to charge us $73,000 to move cable lines. It's just a ridiculous amount for a non-profit, a 5013c, a all volunteer fire company to come up with $73,000," says Denise Bowden, the spokesperson for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company .

Bowden is talking about Verizon's quote to relocate the fire company's current telephone cables to their future home on Deep Hole Road.

The volunteer fire company tells 47 ABC they requested an estimate from Verizon two months ago, but when they received a break down of the costs for materials and labor they could not believe it.

"When it came at 73 we were astounded," says Bowden.

In the hopes of getting that quote re-worked,  Bowden says she sent a letter to Verizon dated on December 9th.

"We put the ball in their court and asked them to respond in ten days and we have not heard anything from them.  Not a phone call, not a letter, not an e-mail, nothing," says Bowden.

Bowden tells 47 ABC they've tried looking into telephone companies, but Verizon is the only company in their area.

"No Comcast, no Cox Cable, nothing like that," says Bowden.

Bowden says  this leaves the fire company  looking for a more affordable solution. Chincoteague fire officials says the majority of their money comes from fundraisers, but unfortunately the money raised does not cover all their needs.

"We are still paying for this [fire truck], we have a new ambulance that we are getting ready to order, we have to do it. We have turnout gear that we have to purchase at $2,000 per person," says Bowden.

Bowden says if the fire company and Verizon can't reach a lower quote, their last resort is to come up with the money, but she admits their budget would take a great hit if $73,000 are handed over.

Verizon got back to us with two statements, one on January 4th, and another on January 5th.

The statement reads:

“The Chincoteague Fire Department asked Verizon to relocate telephone network equipment from where they intend to build a new fire station, and asked us to use the most expensive option for doing so.
 
“What’s been missing from the story about the cost to complete the work is this: we’re not talking about moving a phone line or two. They’ve asked us to relocate and bury more than 1000’ of very large copper cables and fiber optic lines serving a large portion of Chincoteague Island – a very expensive process.  There are other ways to accomplish this and we’ve offered lower cost options. We’ll consider any design changes they’re willing to make and work with them to find a less costly way to do the work. The choice is ultimately up to the Fire Department.” — Michael Murphy, Public Relations Manager for Verizon.
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