I’ll be voting ‘no’ on Issue 6, I oppose an overpriced station
letter to the editor
To the Editor:
Why I’m voting “no” on Issue 6 – Westfield Community Service Building: the proposed location, the way the trustees got a higher bond amount, the future construction on the site, the architectural design and items that have driven up the price tag. Approximately 15 years ago, the Westfield Township trustees built a service building on Buffman Road with the intention to one day attach a new fire station onto that building. It is a five-acre site with plenty of room to add onto. Why then did the trustees pay $150,000 to purchase a new parcel of land to build the new station? That money would have been more than enough to upgrade the septic system and build a new driveway for the service trucks. This site could have also saved money because a training room, kitchen and bathrooms already exist.
The title of “Proposed Fire Station” was changed to “Proposed Community Service Building” by the township trustees to get a higher bond levy on the ballot. Instead of working with their existing location and the allowable bond amount, they changed the name and raised the cost of the building. The proposed location leaves space for future additions. What type of buildings will the trustees decide to build in the village without any intervention from the village?
The planning and zoning code for Westfield Center and Village requires that new buildings complement the existing architecture of the area. This new building is a modern design lacking any colonial character. The design includes items that are required by a full-time department; Westfield is a volunteer department. Do volunteers really need any of the following?
• Sleeping quarters? The fire chief states someone may want to sleep there to get the truck out faster! Won’t that person wait for everyone else to show up?
• A workout room? Police and fire get a discounted membership ($50 per year) to the Cloverleaf Recreation Center. Why duplicate?
• A lounge? The chief stated that if someone wanted to watch a football game, that would be fine.
• A training tower and a confined space training area? Currently they train at the Medina County Career Center. The chief says this “could” reduce our insurance premiums. No one has been able to verify this statement.
• A safe space? Do our residents feel so threatened that they will drive to this building to feel safe?
• A triage room? This station will not be manned 24/7, if someone needs immediate medical attention won’t they go to the ER before they come to a fire station and wait for First Aid? Wellness checks can be performed at the township hall or recreation center. I agree, a new fire station is needed for our community. I would gladly vote for a bond issue if the trustees were being fiscally responsible and the fire station was built on the originally proposed site. I oppose an overpriced, full-time fire station/training center that does not resemble the architecture of our neighborhood.
Louise Veverka
Westfield Center
Why I’m voting “no” on Issue 6 – Westfield Community Service Building: the proposed location, the way the trustees got a higher bond amount, the future construction on the site, the architectural design and items that have driven up the price tag. Approximately 15 years ago, the Westfield Township trustees built a service building on Buffman Road with the intention to one day attach a new fire station onto that building. It is a five-acre site with plenty of room to add onto. Why then did the trustees pay $150,000 to purchase a new parcel of land to build the new station? That money would have been more than enough to upgrade the septic system and build a new driveway for the service trucks. This site could have also saved money because a training room, kitchen and bathrooms already exist.
The title of “Proposed Fire Station” was changed to “Proposed Community Service Building” by the township trustees to get a higher bond levy on the ballot. Instead of working with their existing location and the allowable bond amount, they changed the name and raised the cost of the building. The proposed location leaves space for future additions. What type of buildings will the trustees decide to build in the village without any intervention from the village?
The planning and zoning code for Westfield Center and Village requires that new buildings complement the existing architecture of the area. This new building is a modern design lacking any colonial character. The design includes items that are required by a full-time department; Westfield is a volunteer department. Do volunteers really need any of the following?
• Sleeping quarters? The fire chief states someone may want to sleep there to get the truck out faster! Won’t that person wait for everyone else to show up?
• A workout room? Police and fire get a discounted membership ($50 per year) to the Cloverleaf Recreation Center. Why duplicate?
• A lounge? The chief stated that if someone wanted to watch a football game, that would be fine.
• A training tower and a confined space training area? Currently they train at the Medina County Career Center. The chief says this “could” reduce our insurance premiums. No one has been able to verify this statement.
• A safe space? Do our residents feel so threatened that they will drive to this building to feel safe?
• A triage room? This station will not be manned 24/7, if someone needs immediate medical attention won’t they go to the ER before they come to a fire station and wait for First Aid? Wellness checks can be performed at the township hall or recreation center. I agree, a new fire station is needed for our community. I would gladly vote for a bond issue if the trustees were being fiscally responsible and the fire station was built on the originally proposed site. I oppose an overpriced, full-time fire station/training center that does not resemble the architecture of our neighborhood.
Louise Veverka
Westfield Center
