Madison Township fire chief suggests remodeling fire stations rather than new facilities
Madison Township Fire Chief Ken Justus has changed his focus on options for a new main fire station. Justus told trustees at their regular meeting on Monday that he now is considering upgrading the current facilities on both Expressview Drive and Belmont Avenue.
The chief said in his administrative report that he met with a representative of DLZ Architects of Columbus after recent comments from some residents who suggested that renovations be made to the current fire stations instead of planning new facilities. Justus said the company specializes in renovation and construction of fire stations and ensures that fire stations meet the appropriate codes by the National Fire Prevention Association, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the State of Ohio.
Justus told the board that company representative Greg Galieti reviewed both Madison fire stations, said he would be able to do a survey and sent a copy of a similar survey that was done for the Crescent-Villa Fire Authority in Crescent Springs, Kentucky. The chief handed out copies of the survey to trustees and asked them to review it for possible discussion at their next meeting.
Justus did not say how much money Madison Township could save with renovation compared to a new facility. A very preliminary estimate made several years ago on a possible new main station on Expressview Drive was around $5 million.
Trustees made no comment on the chief’s report but indicated they would review the survey.
Justus also reported that he received notification on Monday that the fire department has been awarded a $14,700 grant from Norwalk Southern Community Giving to replace turnout gear. Application for the funds was submitted Oct. 10.
Trustees OK vehicle purchase, payments
Most of the rest of the meeting dealt with vehicles and paying for summer paving projects.
Trustees voted unanimously to approve an allocation not to exceed $200,285 from the township’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation to pay for a new 2024 Freightliner dump truck for the road department. The board agreed at its Oct. 16 meeting to purchase the truck from the Dexter Company in Bucyrus with delivery in February.
As of Monday’s meeting, Madison Township had a $684,988 balance in its ARPA account.
Trustees also approved invoice and billing arrangements for the township’s summer paving program including a $337,773 payment to Kokosing Construction for the main paving work. In addition, trustees approved an $8,836 payment to the City of Mansfield for joint paving work on Eastland Avenue and north Street, a $45,500 invoice to Springfield Township for a joint paving project on Home Road and a $22,800 invoice to Mansfield for joint projects on Lincoln Terrace and the Illinois Avenue extension.
The board also agreed to put an old front end loader, an old backhoe and an old pickup truck from the street department on GovDeals and will work with the street and fire departments to determine any other unused items to put on the web site. Trustees Chairman Tom Craft noted that a newer front end loader that the township recently purchased has a larger bucket and will fill a dump truck in one-third the time as the one going up for sale.
In other business, Craft reported that the township is “in the running” for Ohio Public Works Commission funding for a pair of culvert projects on Sites Road. Trustee Jim Houser said the Richland County Land Bank is still waiting for information from the restoration contractor before clearing a contaminated site next to the main fire station.
Fiscal Officer Leanna Rhodes noted that Monday’s meeting was held in the fire station instead of the township house because there still are a number of boxes of old records to sort through and classify. She noted that a shredding company recently removed six pallets of records that are being disposed of according to state law.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Madison Township fire chief eyes renovations versus new fire stations
