A public hearing in regards to fire protection services was held before the regular Batavia Town Board meeting on Wednesday night.
A group of volunteers with the Town of Batavia Fire Department attended the public hearing and also updated the Town Board on the progress of a new Station 2 building that is currently being constructed at Clinton street road and Stringham Drive.
The project is about 15% complete right now, the work started in August. The steel panelized building has more space than the current Station 2 building with 10,700 square feet.
The 3.7 million dollar project will allow 4 members to sleep/live at the station with bunk rooms, a full kitchen, work out room, lounge area and room for two more fire apparatus.
The current Station 2 can only fit two apparatus. According to Paul Barrett, Director, Town of Batavia Fire Department, space was the main issue.
“With development down at that end of town we thought we should address the issue,” says Barrett.
Right now, there are 7-8 volunteers working out of Station 2. With 30 new lockers in the new Station 2, more volunteers will be able to have space for their gear. There is also room to add an additional 30 more lockers if needed.
“Currently we have a standing stick ladder that is within 2 inches of scraping the ladder as it goes out the door, the guys have to be really careful.”
Barrett says the project was funded though tax dollars/assessments, but he says the tax rate has not changed in 10 years. There will be a 10-15 year mortgage on the new Station 2.
As far as the current Station 2 building, Barrett says what to do with it is up in the air.
“We have an antique we are going to have to work done to that we need to store, so we are not looking to rush into anything.”
The old Station 2 on Clinton street is zoned commercial.
A June or July ribbon cutting is planned.
The Town voted 5-0 to continue fire protection services with the Town of Batavia Fire Department Inc. for the year 2020 after the public hearing.
The Town will pay the Fire Department one million, seventy-four thousand, seventy five dollars for services performed($1,074,075.00), which is payable on March 1, 2020.
The Fire Department will provide an independent, certified audit of the financial affairs of the Fire Department on or before April 1, 2020.
The Town of Batavia Fire Department has provided fire protection since 1948 and averaged about 350-400 calls for service in 2019.