Janesville City Council will consider new fire station in August
From the WCLO newsroom:
City Manager Steve Sheiffer hopes to gain City Council approval for a new fire station before he retires in September.
As part of a city facilities tour, Sheiffer told the council the city also needs a fifth ambulance for the city on its west side. That would cost $750,00 a year and Sheiffer says with levy limits the city cannot afford that. He says the only way to fund the ambulance would be if the City Council found a new tax or took the matter to referendum. Sheiffer says the city will not propose that, but the levy limits from the state legislature also affect public safety.
Fire Chief Larry Grorud says when Fire Station One was built in 1957, it was made to accommodate a much smaller crew. Grorud says the biggest change since the building was constructed is the addition of female firefighters in Janesville. Fire Station One is the only station in the city without separate living quarters for the women. The dorm-style living quarters in the station use partitions for privacy.
Grorud estimates a new fire station, including site acquisition, planning and construction, to be three million dollars. The city needs to plan where the city's sixth fire station will be built before deciding where the new central station will be located.
WCLO's Beth Wheelock reports on the possibilities for Janesville's Fire Station One
May 28, 2008 at 1:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
I talked to the owner of house in between and he would be willing to sell. The one on corner of milw/atwood/milton av is also up for sale. That would make a nice strip for a new station. The owner of that property had a hard time getting city to use it as business VS PERsonal and lease it out because of parking issues.
May 24, 2008 at 9:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
they can leave that house there. There is a back alley to access the rest of the fire department.
May 23, 2008 at 7:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
There is a house between FS1 and the apartment complex
May 23, 2008 at 11:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
the apartment next to it is for sale $750,000. I would rather see them expand and tear dowm the apartment and stay in HISTORIC and Good location for the old home district.
May 22, 2008 at 10:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
If you don't contact the Council before next Tuesday's meeting, you will have no grounds to complain. Better yet, show up and speak your mind. 7 PM, Tuesday, May 27th, Municipal Building. They are voting on the spending package that very night - a total of 15 million that night at the meeting. If you go onto the City's website, on the left side, click Council Agenda, and go through the full agenda from May 12th. It outlines everything. You won't believe what they are proposing - with all the layoffs in town, we need to let the Council know to stop the spending.
May 22, 2008 at 5:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
I totally agree. The city manager does not know when to stop spending our money.
May 22, 2008 at 1:41 p.m.
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Hannah, call any of the council members and express your opinion
May 22, 2008 at 1:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
I wonder what a remodel would cost? or expanding the FS? buying neighboring property?
if this is less then 3 million then I say we do that. if not then we build a new one.
May 22, 2008 at 12:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
i think the location is fine. Who do I contact to tell them to buy the apartment building next door- tear it down and expand firestation 1. Historic homes are in that area and should have a fire station near by.
May 22, 2008 at 10:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
FS #1 is on Milton Ave close to downtown. I went to an open house there last year. It has lived its life and there is a need for a new FS, and in a better location. I am wondering though, what's going on with all the legacy projects for the City Manager. First it was aquatics, then a renewed downtown, focus on the 4th ward and lookwest, a parking ramp, major upgrades at the wastewater plant, now a fire station.
May 22, 2008 at 9:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
which station is fire station 1? Gazette always leaves out details. on wclo this morning they talked about this and failed to mention which station. sorry I dont know my station numbers just where they are. Also on wclo they said somebody from rotary gardens was leaving to work in madison . WHO is leaving. I also dont know these people by their titles.
May 22, 2008 at 8:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
How about the city manager pay for it for once, what else is out there to tax? This guy is getting to be rediculous.
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