Work to begin on safety addition

The project will cost up to $700,000.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NORTH LIMA -- Beaver Township officials say they expect to break ground this week at the site of the new safety building addition.
Last week, a crew demolished a house to make room for the 8,500-square-foot structure that essentially would expand the current building along West South Range Road, on the building's east side.
The project is expected to cost up to $700,000, and the township is looking to use inheritance tax revenue to pay some of the expenses. Last month, township trustees agreed to pay general contractor Brock Builders of Poland $530,273 to complete the project.
Contracts also were awarded to Ellyson Plumbing, Salem, in the amount of $50,800; Thompson Mechanical, Warren, $49,100; and Joe Dickey Electric, North Lima, $27,685.
The trustees agreed to pay Less Contracting Inc., Salem, to prepare the lot for construction at a cost of $2,450 for demolition of the house at the site and $2,200 to remove trees there.
Earlier this year, township officials said the fire department has outgrown its fire building and needs more space to accommodate equipment, vehicles and personnel.
Compromises on plan
Ron Faniro, architect, said the new structure would allow the fire department to have easier access to fire gear and rescue equipment. Initial plans included the construction of a training tower but officials agreed the township could not afford the feature at this time.
Trustees said they have not ruled out the possibility of adding a training tower to the structure later. They also agreed the addition will only accommodate the fire department, and that it will not be used for the township administration offices.
The township had discussed relocating the administration offices to the fire building and also had looked at constructing an additional building adjacent to it. But trustees decided to keep the administration office at South Range Plaza on South Avenue Extension, where the township rents space from local businessman Joe Dickey.