Building updates headed to Ashland Fire Department and Justice Center soon
ASHLAND – Ashland Fire Department No. 1 and Ashland Justice Center will likely receive well-needed updates this year, accumulating to $150,000 to $200,000 in funding.
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The updates come in wake of exterior damages and deterioration that has piled on throughout the years due to harsh weather conditions and aging infrastructure.
Ashland Fire Department No. 1, which opened on Dec. 23, 1971, has operated for more than 50 years, leading to some deserved updates.
Water leaking into the station, cracked pavement, sidewalk erosion and a rusted front door are some of the fixes Fire Station No. 1 needs in the coming months.
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Fire Station No. 1 is looking into replacing some exterior walls with metal sheets, due to small rocks falling overtime, Fire Chief Rick Anderson said. Replacement of the fire station's front door and exterior lights are probable; due to rust collecting throughout the years.
Water stains have developed on bricks inside the northwest side of the fire station due to erosion. Since the sidewalk has sloped inward over time, water sometimes enters through holes in the brick siding, thus causing the water stains.
Ashland Police Division Chief David Lay has had discussions of repaving the employee parking lot, which has been going on for over a year, Lay said.
Who's funding the projects?
In the finalized budget for 2022, the city government is intending to include money to complete some major improvements at both Fire Station No. 1 and the Ashland Justice Center, Mayor Matt Miller said.
"Both of these buildings have served our community for decades," Miller said. "Improvements will be exterior ... things like new gutters and structural improvements."
Roughly $150,000 to $200,000 will be allocated for the updates to the Justice Center and Fire Station No. 1. It's unclear how the funds will be split and when the improvements will begin. "The numbers are not carved in stone but that's what we are hoping to budget for those projects," Miller said.
It's more than likely these improvements will have to be passed by city ordinance since project costs could exceed over $25,000.
"It's important that we maintain [Fire Station No. 1] facility so it can continue to serve us for years to come," Miller said.
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The need for a third fire station
Since the opening of Fire Station No. 2 in July 2021 off Mifflin Avenue and U.S. Route 42, the possibility of a third fire station is floating around due to the increase of housing near U.S. Route 250.
One hurdle will be locating land and finding funds to complete the project.
Simonson Construction Services constructed Fire Station No. 2, a $2.85 million project, according to a previous Times-Gazette report. The land was donated by University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center, and the Samaritan Hospital Foundation agreed to give $300,000 toward the purchase of a firetruck for the location.
A third fire station would cut in response time, which has been evident in the addition of Fire Station No. 2.
Reach Grant at gritchey@gannett.com
On Twitter: @ritchey_grant
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Fire Department and Justice Center updates coming in 2022
