In my opinion, a smaller fire station could be built
letter to the editor
To the Editor:
After reading editorials on Issue 6, I have come up with the following: Like everything else in life, there is always compromise.
First, obviously we are in need of a long overdue new fire station. There is an old saying in the fire community “every chief wants to build a castle.” Well, at $5,000,000, this seems to be a costly castle for a department that averages less than one call (EMS and fire) per day. As far as I know, the $150,000 purchase of land was done without any community input.
Mr. Thombs would like you to believe the new station will be built near the intersection of state Route 224 and Leroy Road, when, in fact, the entrance will be off of Virginia Drive, a residential two-lane street.
No one can predict the future, but a full paid department seems to be a bit of a stretch. Seemingly, men and women dorms are not needed. Also, do the mean streets of Westfield Center really need a “safe room?”
As far as I know, there are no plans for the present station, therefore EMS could still run out of the existing building. A smaller station could be built at a lesser cost. A 30-year bond is a long time to pay for excessive construction.
If any of these statements raise a red flag, join me in voting no and give the community the opportunity for more input as to size and location of a new fire station.
Debbie Eletich
Westfield Center
After reading editorials on Issue 6, I have come up with the following: Like everything else in life, there is always compromise.
First, obviously we are in need of a long overdue new fire station. There is an old saying in the fire community “every chief wants to build a castle.” Well, at $5,000,000, this seems to be a costly castle for a department that averages less than one call (EMS and fire) per day. As far as I know, the $150,000 purchase of land was done without any community input.
Mr. Thombs would like you to believe the new station will be built near the intersection of state Route 224 and Leroy Road, when, in fact, the entrance will be off of Virginia Drive, a residential two-lane street.
No one can predict the future, but a full paid department seems to be a bit of a stretch. Seemingly, men and women dorms are not needed. Also, do the mean streets of Westfield Center really need a “safe room?”
As far as I know, there are no plans for the present station, therefore EMS could still run out of the existing building. A smaller station could be built at a lesser cost. A 30-year bond is a long time to pay for excessive construction.
If any of these statements raise a red flag, join me in voting no and give the community the opportunity for more input as to size and location of a new fire station.
Debbie Eletich
Westfield Center
