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Ida fire hall, library plans get new look - 01/14/2003
The Ida Township Board still is struggling with the issue of renovations to the fire hall and building a new library and township offices.
Evening News staff writer By SCOTT NEINAS
IDA TOWNSHIP -- The road to a new library took another turn Monday night when township firefighters were asked to revisit the issue of a controversial fire hall renovation project. At the end of a three-hour meeting, which focused on the location of the new library, the Ida Township Board and firefighters discussed a less ambitious renovation plan that they hope will cost less than the $300,000 project the board approved last week. The new plan would install showers and industrial washers on the first floor of the fire hall. It would mean that the township board would spend money to move its offices into the new library building. The move came after residents complained about the $300,000 renovation project, which would have put the showers and washers on the second floor of the fire hall, keeping township offices on the first floor. "I don't think it's right for the board to renovate the fire hall for $100,000 more than it should cost," said Keith Gere, a resident at the meeting. "I think there's a better way of going about the whole thing." The township board had planned to renovate the fire hall in phases and move its offices into the new library after bids for the renovation came in $50,000 more than expected. The move enraged firefighters, who said renovations to their outdated hall had been delayed for decades. Ida resident Joe Schumaker called the board's decision last week to appease firefighters and approve the $300,000 renovation a "knee-jerk reaction." "For $300,000 more, you could get a new facility with all the amenities. I don't think we're planning for the future here," he said. That prompted the board to ask firefighter representatives if they would be willing to revisit the issue. Firefighters said they will discuss the matter in a meeting scheduled for Monday and will report back to the township board. Capt. Randy Stanifer, a spokesman for the Ida Township Volunteer Fire Department, said he expects the new renovation to be "drastically" lower than $300,000. It's unknown if the township has enough money in its general fund to pay for both the renovation and new township offices. "We won't know until the bids come back," said township Supervisor Larry Metz. Ida voters in August passed a five-year, .5-mill levy to pay for the library. According to engineer estimates, the township would have to use at least $200,000 of its general fund money to pay for its share of a bigger library building that would accommodate township offices. Mr. Metz said at the meeting that the township's first priority is to take care of the fire department. "We want to guarantee that they will get their needs met," he said Monday. "I'm not going to put them off one day longer than I physically can. " Firefighters say they need the showers and industrial washers to clean themselves and their clothes after tending to fire and accident victims. The renovation issue has been a sore spot for years, firefighters said, as other township boards put the department's needs on the back burner. Mr. Metz urged firefighters to put the past behind them. "Quite frankly, this has gotten, for lack of a better word, out of hand," he said. Most of the meeting focused on the location of the new library, which is slated to go where the bingo pavilion is now, behind the fire hall. Firefighters said the building will block the view of their park, which they use for department fundraisers. "It's going to tremendously hinder our ability to make any money at all," Capt. Stanifer said. Alternate locations were discussed at the meeting, but all had faults. Drainage problems and the proximity to utility lines make the current location the only one feasible, engineers said. Library officials are neutral in the matter, saying they would like the new building to be a positive for the whole community. "The library will add to the community, we're not here to divide it," said Barb Drodt, who manages the Ida library branch. "Hopefully we can resolve this and move forward."
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