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Federal stiumulus sought for new fire station
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - April 15, 2009)
Federal stiumulus sought for new fire station
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
The Burton Volunteer Fire Department has changed its tactics in hopes of finding money for a new fire station.
Fire Chief Michael Sestak said last week the department has registered to get some federal stimulus money for construction of a 26,000-square-foot station north of Burton Village.
Last year, the department lost out in its bid for state funding after Burton Village officials delayed approval of water and sewer services for the three-acre property slated for the new station.
With the economic downturn, Mr. Sestak said, it is not the best time to be seeking funding. But he said the stimulus package now offers some hope for the funding.
He said the department has enlisted the aid of state Sen. Timothy Grendell, R-Chester, and state Rep. Matthew Dolan, R-Russell, in seeking the funding.
Burton Township Trustee James Dvorak has also lobbied for the project on behalf of union workers and the department for the project.
Mr. Sestak said the department will not try to seek the money from local taxpayers, particularly in today's economic climate. "If it takes a year or two, we're not giving up," he said.
He said the proposed building is not the "Taj Mahal" that some have claimed. "It's a functioning, cheapest building we could build," he said. "There are no frills," he said. "No marble floors."
He said the department's hope is to provide comfortable surroundings for firefighters, who stay at the station during their shifts. He said he continues to invite the public to see the retrofitted cramped quarters the firefighters deal with in an 1882 building, originally constructed as an opera house.
Mr. Sestak said none of the department's members is soaking taxpayers, either. He is paid $200 a month to serve as chief and one firefighter who works at a national chain fast-food restaurant is making more there than as a firefighter. "People don't do this for the money," he said. "They just want to help their community."
Mr. Sestak said, if the department can secure funding from outside sources and then sell the existing fire station, the taxpayers will benefit. He said the money from the sale could be used to offset the need for new fire levies for as long as 10 years.
Rob Roy, who serves as a consultant to the fire department with his firm, Northcoast Consulting, said the department's registration with the Federal Recovery Act is in competition with applications from 400 others across the country.
However, he said, the project fits the criteria that was initially set for the stimulus money, even though new criteria is still being established.
The project is "shovel ready," having received zoning approval from Burton Township and access to water and sewer services from Burton Village. In addition, Mr. Roy said, all engineering and environmental studies have been completed.
The application, he said, seeks $4.5 million, up from the original $3.7 million estimate for the project. Mr. Roy said inflation and the cost of using prevailing wage has increased the department's costs on the project.
The project will not only create construction jobs for local workers, he said, but promises to continue to create jobs as part of a regional training center for firefighters. The Geauga campus of Kent State University is partnering with the department to create that regional center, he said.
"It fits it (the stimulus bill) right to a T," he said.
Mr. Dvorak said the project is of critical importance to the area, because of its effect on first responders to emergencies. A recent seminar in Columbus dealing with first responders' role in dealing with Homeland Security issues emphasized the importance of a modern, up-to-date fire department, he said.
Mr. Dvorak said he already has had two meetings with Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher to learn as much as possible about the process of seeking the federal funding and will continue to work to bring the money home for the local project.
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