Facility needs clash with tight budgets in Milton
Podcast Episode
The need for new public safety facilities in Milton might prompt some consolidation of space. A future facility might house both the police and fire departments. Kyle Geissler reports. You can read more in Wednesday's Janesville Gazette.
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The Milton Public Works building is located at 620 W. Madison Ave. behind the current fire station.
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Despite the nation's poor economic situation, officials in Milton wonder how long they can wait to replace the city's police station, fire station and public works building.
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Milton's fire station is at 614 W. Madison Ave., an area officials call a prime spot for private development. The city's public works building stands behind the fire station.
MILTON — In 20 years, Milton’s mayor wants residents to be proud of the 2010 city council for taking a long-term view of the city’s facilities.
He wants the city to stop putting money into aging buildings and instead take advantage of low interest rates and construction costs to build a new public works building and a joint police/fire station.
“The city basically has ignored building new facilities,” Mayor Tom Chesmore said. “You can only neglect things for so long. We’ve stuck a lot of money in these structures just to keep them so people can work out of them.”
City council members and the mayor agree that something must be done about Milton’s aging facilities. But they disagree about how far to go and how much to spend during a time of economic hardship.
Building problems
The issue isn’t new. A 2005 study said the department of public works eventually will need a new building and advised the council to think carefully about investing in the existing building. City employees shuffle snowplows, trucks and other vehicles nearly every day in the department garage to get vehicles in and out.
A 2008 study of the fire station, jointly owned by the city and Milton Township, said the building lacks sleeping space, storage area and facilities for female firefighters. The building has cracks over the doors, and water seeps in through the concrete blocks.
Fire Chief Loren Lippincott already has applied for two grants that could help remodel or rebuild the station and is waiting to learn the results, he said.
The police station also has significant limitations, including a lack of space for evidence storage, Chief Jerry Schuetz said. The evidence area is in the station’s garage, which isn’t heated, so officers take space heaters with them in the winter to work with evidence.
The city approved $15,000 in its 2010 budget to fix the station’s leaky roof.
The building has run out of space as the city has grown and technological advances have given officers more responsibilities, Schuetz said.
“Simply put, we’ve just outgrown this facility,” he said.
Facilities versus funds
Chesmore would like to see the city address all the problems at once by planning a new public works building and combined police/fire station.
The budget included $27,000 to study the public works building, and Chesmore would like to see a police/fire feasibility study this year, too.
“If we could borrow enough money to build two buildings and still keep us in good shape fiscally … I’d be all for it,” he said.
The public works building and fire station are on Madison Avenue near Merchant Row, an area the city has targeted for business development. If the city tears down the buildings and builds on other municipal land, that leaves two prime spots for private development, Chesmore said.
Council member Brett Frazier’s jaw dropped when he heard Chesmore describe his vision during the Nov. 30 budget hearing, he said.
“I don’t just blurt things out all that often, but the word ‘wow’ just jumped out of my mind,” Frazier said. “I couldn’t believe that he would think this is a good idea but secondly that he would say it.”
Frazier, who has emphasized fiscal conservatism in his time on the council, would approve of a new police/fire station if the fire department gets a grant to help cover the costs, he said.
“It’s far less of a slam dunk to build a brand-new fire department that’s going to last for the next 50 years if we don’t get that grant,” he said. “I’m not sure the city is in a position to do that.”
If the city and township build a new fire station, he thinks the public works department should move into the existing fire station.
“At the very least, that buys us another 10 to 15 years until we’re at a critical state where we need to replace the DPW building,” he said. “It just seems like such a no-brainer.”
Many decisions
Other council opinions range across the board.
Council member Dave Adams said he’s not sure it’s wise to combine the police and fire stations, though he hasn’t made up his mind yet. The city would have to work out a lot of issues with the township, which owns half of the fire department but has its own police department and station.
Adams is in favor of a suggestion by Lippincott to build two fire stations, one on either side of the train tracks that divide the city.
“It’s a more expensive option, no doubt about that, but it would serve the people better,” Adams said.
Right now, a train could block firefighters from getting to an emergency south of the tracks, he said.
Other council members acknowledged the problem but said they don’t think it’s realistic for Milton to have two fire stations.
“I don’t think that it’s economically feasible,” Lynda Clark said. “We’re a volunteer fire department.”
Repair also could be an option for one or all of the facilities, City Administrator Todd Schmidt said.
“Considering all of our options includes looking at repairing facilities and maintaining the status quo,” he wrote in an e-mail to the Gazette. “Understanding those costs and implications will be part of the research and analysis.”
Much depends on whether the fire department gets a grant to help build a new station, said council member Fred Hookham.
“If we can get some money, that makes the whole process much easier,” he said. “If we don’t get the grant, I really struggle to decide how much we can build.”
Hookham said he’s not in favor of building everything at once if the council decides to build new facilities.
“I think we need to begin doing something, but there’s a little too much on the plate,” he said.
But Clark said the city should have addressed its buildings long ago and can no longer put it off. She invited residents to schedule tours of the fire station and public works building if they don’t understand the need.
“The public is pretty much aware of the condition of our buildings, and certainly anyone is welcome to come and tour the buildings at any time during the open hours so that they can see for themselves,” she said.
Jan 15, 2010 at 1:40 p.m.
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Napalm: If what the Fire Department needs is "proper MANAGEMENT" then why don’t you go to the Fire Department and show them what they need to do? I think the Fire Department is very well organized for the space that they have. The fire station that was built in the 70's was very adequate for the times and for the size that the trucks were at the time. Fire trucks today are much larger than that of the 70's. Also in the 70's there were a lot more people that had a sense of community pride and would get involved with their Fire Department. Today the Fire Department finds themselves looking to people from outside the local community to protect the citizens of Milton for both Fire protection and Ambulance services. Therefore the fire department needs sleeping quarters for the people that are willing to protect our families, homes and business. So why is it too much to ask for them to have a fire station that is large enough to keep all fire department equipment in side of the station that is not falling apart?
Jan 15, 2010 at 5:22 a.m.
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And Hank we are not a bunch of hicks,you may be but don't drag the rest of us into you little world of negativity. We have problems just like big cities and you would know that if you could remove your head from where the sun don't shine.
Jan 15, 2010 at 5:20 a.m.
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Hank Justin splits his duties and he has proven a great asset to Milton in terms of his skill. Last year alot of crimes were solved because of his skill level and the time he devoted to put into it. And as for the new chief I think he has brought Milton to a level that it needed to be along time ago. Milton is just not a small bedroom town anymore. We are a growing city and we need the likes of this police chief. Theres good things happening in the city right now and into the future.
Jan 14, 2010 at 8:06 p.m.
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OH and Hank Milton has a population of about 5,600 people
Jan 14, 2010 at 6:37 p.m.
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mespl the $27,000 is a rough figure but it won't be more than that. And Hank Milton Police Dept does have an investigator and he does collect and process evidence.
Jan 14, 2010 at 4:50 p.m.
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Each cop car should have a little trailer to pull behind also for processing of criminals, storage of evidence, and there can be a holding cell built in too for when a drunk driver needs to be held until they are sober. I think that is an excellent idea, thanks Hank!
Jan 14, 2010 at 1:12 p.m.
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Hey Napalm, did you ever consider that management informed the proper people that repairs needed to be done but was turned down because they "did not have the money"? You can talk about maintenance and upkeep all you want, that is not the problem. The lack of proper city management and mispropriation of funds is the problem. Now the citizens will have to pay for it. Why is it that i picture you as one of those whiners when the streets are not plowed correctly or the police or fire department is too slow? Times have changed after all these years. They need bigger and better facilities.
Jan 14, 2010 at 11:42 a.m.
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I didn't call it waste I said it was reasonable. Even if it is only one building that means that they will get a better study. Do you know where the figure of 27 came from was that from the firm doing the work or is that just what the city set asside?
Jan 14, 2010 at 11:37 a.m.
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mespl: that 27,000 is just for a study on the public works building not all three buildings. What comes out of the study of public works will give the city an exact answer to their needs now and in the future. It also will suggest building size and location. Its a lot of money but lets see what it brings before we jump the gun and call it a waste.
Jan 14, 2010 at 11:35 a.m.
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Napalm: I am quite impressed that you have all the answers, simply from a few pictures. So in the past 30 years has Milton grown, have there been new innovations in fire fighting equipment or the equipment used by the public works department? How exactly would a maintenance person fix a poor foundation that resulted in a building sinking, especially when taxpayers don’t want to pay for it, their estimate is 15K just to fix the leaking roof and you think that they can fix everything for under 27K including a bad foundation and buildings that are not large enough? When a community grows the public works sector grows, however if the public works buildings do not grow while the community is growing then there is not enough space and eventually something must be done.
Jan 14, 2010 at 10:52 a.m.
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Woodsman I said nothing about "old" I said time and there is a differnce. Time as in not only the age of the building but what each building is expected to be used for and does it meet those expectations. As the city has grown every dept has had to add equipment and personnel. Yet we are still using and fixing the same buildings year after year. If I am not mistaken taxpayers spent tens of thousands on building fixing last year. I for one would like something that does not cost us money every year and will last for 30 or 40 years without adding on or not meeting Fed and state mandates.
Jan 14, 2010 at 10:48 a.m.
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hssjen: 27k for an in-depth study that includes the three buildings that are being discussed (fire station, police station, and public works) is a fairly reasonable number.
woodsman: Yes some things are old and need repair, however there is not adequate space in the public works facility for all of the required equipment, the fire station has sinking issues literally in two corners, it is not just about the age of the buildings it is about structural issues and space issues of the buildings.
These are issues where the city has grown and the facilities have not, unfortunately this was not dealt with when the economy was good and eventually it will have to be dealt with, they are considering dealing with it now so that they can lock in at a low interest rate instead of in five or ten years when interest rates are higher. I don’t want my taxes to go up anymore than the next guy however that sediment is exactly what got Milton into this predicament, people didn’t want to pay for additions to keep the buildings feasible as the community grew and as a result all of the buildings in one form or another is inadequate. The study will help the community to prioritize what the necessities are and what the options are so that the best solutions are come to.
Jan 14, 2010 at 10:31 a.m.
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When they talk about things needing repair,they are old,then every house that is old should be torn down,and new one built?? Now i am worried about the Milton House,it is old,is it's days numbered too???
Jan 14, 2010 at 10:20 a.m.
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Ok, I know I'm not educated in this area- but what is making me say "WOW" and blows my mind is $27000 to STUDY this??
Jan 14, 2010 at 8:39 a.m.
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Napalm you are so wrong and misinformed. That was not a fishing boat you idiot its for water rescue. The ATV is used to fight grass fires and also for rescue at off road accidents or ice rescue. Neglect is not causing the fire station to sink in two corners. Its time that has caused alot of problems for these buildings. The fire station was built in 1976 the police dept I think was somewhere in the 40's and public works building has been around for at least 35 to 40 years. How much has Milton grown in the last 30 to 40 years? How much more in services have been required in the last 20 years? Cities grow and the services must grow with them. If there has been any neglect its from city goverment neglecting to do something before all of these buildings needed to be replaced at the same time.
Jan 14, 2010 at 8:23 a.m.
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Lets spend more money we dont have.Let the economy get back on track before we look into this. Taxes are out of control now and you want more money which will ad more to taxes. I am taxed to the mill now. We still dont know what your last million dollar mistake is going to cost, do we. Slow down I have.
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