43
Decision needed on fire station
Photo
FIREHOUSE OPTIONS: Boardman township trustees Robyn Gallitto, left, and Larry Moliterno, discuss options for repairing the leaky basement of the main fire station on U.S. Route 224 with Fire Chief James Dorman, right.
By Denise Dick
A 2005 report estimated building a new fire station at the same site at more than $4 million.
BOARDMAN — The basement is moldy and waterlogged, the wooden siding is bowing, and the roof and windows leak.
Township officials agree something needs to be done to address problems at Boardman’s main fire station on U.S. Route 224, but it’s an issue of renovation versus replacement and the accompanying costs.
“We have to make a decision about what we’re doing,” Fire Chief James Dorman said Wednesday at a walk-through with trustees of the main station.
Up until a few years ago, firefighters were making small repairs, such as fixing kitchen cabinets, but stopped because Dorman believed the township was going to build a new station.
In 2005, trustees got a report from MS Consultants of Youngstown that estimated the cost for a new station at the Route 224 site at $4.1 million. The MS report looked at the feasibility of renovating versus rebuilding the station at the same site.
The cost halted any movement, but the problems haven’t gone away.
The basement was cleaned early last year, part of the roof was replaced and a sump pump was installed as stop-measures, but more repairs are needed, the chief said.
The heating and air conditioner vents on the roof need replaced and the hot water tank and most of the windows leak, the chief said. He estimated needed repairs at $50,000 and questions whether it’s worth it to spend the money on a building that’s in such shape.
“I think we’ve reached the point of no return on this building,” Dorman said.
Trustee Larry Moliterno said the status of the fire station is one of the items to be examined in a township plan. Committees will be established to look at individual aspects of that plan that outlines the township’s future.
“Part of the plan is we need to look at our facilities,” he said.
Robyn Gallitto, trustee chairwoman, said it’s also a health issue, referring to leaks and mold.
The location, in the heart of the township’s commercial area, is central to a majority of the calls to which firefighters respond.
“That’s why I’ve said I wanted us to stay here — even in all this mess — to serve those people, but we’re getting past that,” Dorman said.
Administrator Jason Loree said one option is to move to another location and sell the current site. A new location could be funded with proceeds from the sale as well as donations. He said he has a meeting scheduled for next week with a potential donor he declined to identify.
The potential location would remain centrally located, Loree said.
A 2.2-mill police and fire levy is planned for the November ballot to raise about $2 million, but that money is for personnel. It wouldn’t be used for facilities. If the levy passes, the township hopes to return six of nine laid-off firefighters and hire between six and 10 police officers.