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Plans for second Marion fire station still a go

BY JOHN D. HOMAN, The Southern

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 10:56 PM CDT

MARION -If the money's there, Marion intends to move forward with construction plans for a second fire station.

Rumors to the contrary are incorrect, Mayor Bob Butler said Tuesday.

Last week, the City Council voted unanimously to set aside $100,000 in the new appropriations ordinance for preliminary work on a second station.

The council did not remove that line item funding at Monday's meeting, and it will likely vote on the ordinance at next Monday's meeting.

The city is not obligated to spend that amount on the fire station project, but it can spend up to that amount this fiscal year if the funds are available.

Butler said there is a "pretty good" chance some of that $100,000 can be spent this year either for a down payment on property or for architectural drawings.

Fire Chief Anthony Rinella said he would like to "explore all of our options" before deciding on how large the station should be and where it should be built.

"I want to pick a location that would be suitable not only for today but 10 to 20 years from now," Rinella said. "I have reservations about a station at the fairgrounds due to the fuel bulk storage facilities located nearby, but that still remains an option."

The chief speculated that cost for a new station would likely run the city at least $1 million rather than the $500,000 to $800,000 projected by city administrator Gail West.

"There are a lot of intangibles to work out before getting started on this project," Rinella said.

The need for a second station has increased with the town's burst in population and with the added number of trains that pass through the community, delaying emergency access to residents on the east end of town.

Fire Commissioner Jay Rix said he is "very much in favor" of a second fire station to protect the city's east side and remains optimistic that funds will become available to get the project started soon.

"That's what I would like to see," he said.

Rix added that the youth center on Boulevard Street was another possible site for a new station.

john.homan@thesouthern.com

351-5805