MARSHFIELD FIRE STATION DISCUSSED
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 -- 10:17 AM
A new $5.5-million fire station in Marshfield might be a tough sell during these tough economic times.A large crowd was on hand for Tuesday night?s Common Council meeting as plans for a new central fire station were revealed.
The architect said the price tag does not include the purchase of property, furniture or fixtures.
Some questioned officials? refusal to consider remodeling the current facility.
"It was feasible to remodel that station at $500,000, why would it not be feasible to take the 15,000 square-foot from the north end of town, and move it to the location you have now?" asked City resident Duke Schueller, who organized last year?s petition drive against a new north-side station.
But, officials said the current 4th Street location is not conducive to expansion.
Fire Chief Jim Schmidt said the proposed facility would meet existing needs, and would not rule out the future need of a second station somewhere.
"The issue of response times to the north, and potentially the south, if we get the growth with Highway 10 exists today, and it may exist to the south in the future," Schmidt said, "The likelihood of a satellite to the north, or a satellite to the south, is certainly a real possibility."
Schmidt said he hoped to win grant money to help offset the cost of the new station.
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