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Old fire station gets chance at second life
(by Joan Demirjian - July 07, 2010)
Old fire station gets chance at second life
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
Russell's old fire station is getting new life, serving as expanded storage by township departments.
It is at Chillicothe (Route 306) and Kinsman (Route 87) roads, where the first fire station was built in 1952. That small station was replaced in 1974 on the site after the land and building were turned over to the township in 1973.
"It's in good shape, and if the township can use, let's use it," Trustee James Dickinson said.
Jack Gallagher, township maintenance superintendent, has kept it in good repair, according to Township Trustees.
Mr. Gallagher has been using it as a maintenance building. "It's good for storage," he said. Eventually, he hopes to have an office in the building, he said. "It's very handy."
Now, the police and fire departments are planning to each take one of the former fire-vehicle bays, section them off with fencing and use them for storage of equipment.
The sewer line being planned for the township administration building on Kinsman Road will also serve the former fire station.
"It will be a great improvement," Mr. Gallagher said.
He would like to see the large overhead doors on the front of the building facing Chillicothe Road replaced with brick and the front pavement replaced with grass. There are doors on the back of the building that would be used.
There had been interest expressed in the past for using the old fire station by entities such as the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Geauga Park District. However, without a sewer connection it was unlikely that could happen, according to trustees.
It has been looked at for use by the West Geauga School District for working on and repairing buses, but it had no lift and it could not accommodate employees without a sewer connection, Mr. Dickinson said.
A sewer line would make it more usable with an office for the maintenance department.
Russell Police Chief Tim Carroll said he has obtained prices on fencing to create an enclosed area in one of the bays for police equipment.
It could be used for a large piece of police evidence, a police car or trailer, Mr. Carroll said. The storage area would be secured with fencing on the sides and top along with a camera, he said.
When the trustees conducted budget hearings recently, the department heads all told them storage was a key need for all of them, Mr. Dickinson said.
There was some thought given to storing records there, but department heads said they needed those records on-site, he said.
When the West Geauga School District moves its buses from the old bus garage next to the Russell Police Department, that area could be considered for storage possibilities as well, Mr. Dickinson said.
It has electricity and water and the cement slab of the existing bus garage building might be used for a storage building, he said.
"That is further down the road and depends on what we find there, the condition of the slab and whether there are any contaminants," he said.
As for the old fire station, Mr. Dickinson had recommended hiring an architect to review the needs and design a storage system for the departments.
The bay doors aren't energy efficient, however, they might need to keep them on the front and back of the building to have the ability to drive through the building.
Trustee James Mueller has suggested a general contractor look at the building to make suggestions.
"We'll do some special measures so police and fire have additional storage space," Mr. Mueller said.
When the trustees visited police stations to get ideas before the new one was built, everyone told them they would have put in more storage space, and that is what has happened, he said.
"I'm not in favor of getting rid of the old fire station. It's perfect for storage for the department and for the maintenance department," Mr. Mueller said.
Russell Fire Chief John Frazier said the department has equipment including two off-road vehicles for brush fires and for transporting in rescue situations that can be stored at the old station. It also could be used for a other items.
"It's things we use on a seasonal basis and it would be easier if they were out of the way," Mr. Frazier said.
The space those vehicles take up now in the new station could be used for other equipment, he said.
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