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Jackson Township fire station planned
(by Sean Lehosit, staff writer - September 01, 2010)
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| This is an artist rendering of the planned fourth fire station in Jackson Township. |
On Aug. 31 residents of Jackson Township congregated at the Grove City Church of the Nazarene, where they were given the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions about the proposed construction of a fourth fire station.
According to township trustee David Burris, about five acres of land was obtained on the corner of Buckeye Parkway and Holton Road in 2006.
This was in result of an agreement between Grove City and Pinnacle developers where Pinnacle promised to help build another fire station or safety building to substitute the revenue loss Jackson Township would feel after their annexation into Grove City.
The estimated cost for the fire station is $2.2 million, but according to the agreement between Pinnacle and Grove City, the funding and acquisition of land is guaranteed to be the responsibility of both Grove City and money gathered through the Pinnacle TIF. This TIF will also include funding for the station's equipment and engine.
Additionally, the township applied for a $1.3 million federal grant in 2009 and should hear if they have been approved by Sept. 30.
This would be the first fire station built in the township since Station 203 in 1978 when the population was around 12,000. The township, now at a population of around 40,000, has wanted to install a fourth fire station since 2003 which was during the planning of the Pinnacle projects.
"We want to improve the welfare and safety of our community in a variety of ways," Deputy Fire Chief Rick Dawson said.
Dawson added there is currently little to no coverage at the south end of the township and the proposed site would increase their response time in all the cardinal directions, "being here gives us the 360 degrees ability to serve."
During dry runs performed by the fire department they noticed significant improvements all over the township with timing and got a peek at how this location would maximize their ability to provide services to most residents.
Preliminary renderings of the proposed fire station were shown by Joe Weithman from Mull & Weithman Architects, the company responsible for the design of the building. Along with leaving plenty of space to expand the building, the station would also have training facilities which according to Weithman have been a recent trend within modern fire stations. Weithman also drove around with the fire department to look at the rural architecture that surrounds the area.
"We were looking for clues from those buildings for our design," Weithman said.
However, some residents in attendance were concerned over what the fire station would mean for them. While they recognized the need and benefit of a fourth fire station, they were wary about the noise which would result from the station's location across the street from their residential area.
"When I bought my house this wasn't part of the plan," one resident said.
Fire Chief Lloyd Sheets said the fire department has always tried their best to be good neighbors. He added in 14 years there have only been two noise complaints from the community, one due to a malfunctioning air-conditioner and the second in result from a P.A. system being left on.
According to trustee Stephen Bowshier and Sheets, the current location has been the best site that has been donated. An initial site was offered on Lamplighter Drive, but being at a dead end was not ideal and building the station off of 104 would limit them to only 180 degrees because it's backed up to a river, and isn't beneficial to the areas growth.
Bowshier said while the project is far along, "they're not shutting the door yet." He said the trustees welcome feedback and are open to ideas about alternative sites the township would study. If they could find another location that would fulfill the requirements of the department and make residents happy that would be something they would consider.
Comments or questions about the proposed fire station can be sent online at www.jacksontwp.org.
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