Public hearing set to debate Fire Station No. 1 project

Conflict over the site of Fire Station No. 1 has caused tension among the Sylvania Township trustees.

The trustees recently set Wednesday as the date for a public hearing, where the topic will be tearing down the station at 6633 Monroe St. and erecting a new one in the same spot.

Numerous sites have been debated for the station, which is the final project to be built with a 1.25-mill levy that was approved by voters in 2008.

The township began collecting the money in 2009 and it has three years to spend it.

The fire department covers both the city and the township.

Two other fire stations have been replaced and another has been remodeled as part of the levy.

But time is running out, Trustee Kevin Haddad said. He said rebuilding the station at the existing site would require the trustees to reverse a resolution.

"We passed in about March that we were not going to rebuild it at the current site. They voted not to put it on Erie Street," he said.

But Trustee Neal Mahoney said the group is not concerned about the expiration of the levy money.

"We have no concerns," he said. "As long as we have a site earmarked, we will have no issues to losing levy monies."

He is in agreement with rebuilding on the existing site, because of remarks made by Sylvania Fire Chief Jeffrey Kowalski.

"Our fire chief believes that this location is also the best suited with what has been presented over the years," Mr. Mahoney said. "I take credence in what our chief says and if he thinks this is a viable location, then I am in agreement with the chief."

But Mr. Haddad said time is still the most important factor. He is doubtful that a new station could be built before the end of the year.

"I know it won't be able to happen. There's no way. We'll have to build a new building in five months. The problem is, the money is gone by then."

For starters, he said, tearing down the existing fire station could take two to three months.

After that, constructing a new station could take several months.

John Zeitler, township administrator, said there are exceptions to when bond spending must occur.

"You have three years in which to spend the bond …and that would be by March of next year. There are a number of exceptions, so if you have a project that's under way you can go beyond the three years," he said.

According to the township Web site, it is anticipated that construction will begin on the project in March, 2013.

Mr. Zeitler said the bond money is not in jeopardy, unless the trustees don't make a decision by spring.

"There is not a rule that funds have to be returned, only whether they could become taxable from their current nontaxable status," he said. "That would only happen if nothing is under way by March."