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City seeks grant money to build new fire station by 2011

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June 21, 2009

by Amanda Harnocz

Reporter

Tallmadge -- The city is requesting a state grant to help pay for the cost of replacing Fire Station 2 by 2011.

Mayor Christopher Grimm said during the June 11 City Council meeting that he hoped to receive about $750,000 in state grant money to pay for half of the cost of the project.

A replacement fire levy passed in November 2007 would pay for the other half of the project, said Grimm. In 2008, the fire levy generated $1.65 million in a year to help pay for salaries and benefits for three new firefighters hired in November.

Assistant Fire Chief Pat Gaffney said the grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is "tough to get," but that it is part of stimulus funds being offered to upgrade stations and stimulate the local construction industry.

Grimm said he and other city employees plan to travel to Lafayette, Ind. to tour newly built stations and see what is best for Tallmadge. As of now, Grimm said the plan is to try to get the station built by 2011 at a total cost of $1.5 million.

Gaffney said station 2, located at 735 Eastwood Ave., was built in the 1950s with some additions added in the early 1970s.

"It needs improvements," he said. "It met our needs when we were a volunteer staff in the beginning, and we made it work now, but it needs updating."

Currently, there are two bays for trucks and one EMS unit with a dorm-style sleeping area, small kitchenette and old 1950s wiring and plumbing.

Ideally, Gaffney said the department would operate best with two fire truck bays and two EMS units at Station 2.

Also, separate bathrooms for female employees is necessary, individual sleeping quarters and a building that could double for training purposes "would bring it up to current standards," he said.

Gaffney said the desired level of firefighters at station 2 is three. The location of the new station will remain in the "same general vicinity," he added.

Gaffney said the old station will operate while the new one is under construction.

"The only people who will probably notice are the firefighters," said Gaffney, adding, "but we can tolerate the construction for about a year if the end result is better -- and it will be better for all of us."

After station 2's project is complete, Gaffney said refurbishing Station 1, 85 West Overdale Drive, which was built in the 1970s, could be the next step.

Gaffney explained the city has two stations because in the 1950s, the city could be completely divided by the many trains that ran through Tallmadge. The department had to make sure it could reach all streets at all times if a fire were to break out.

E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3911




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