Fire station plans starting (02/06/06)

Preliminary planning for a new fire station in Dunkirk could soon begin.

Ami Davidson, Jay County Community Developer, updated Jay County Commissioners this morning on plans that are underway for getting a new structure that would also house the Jay Emergency Medical Service ambulance base in Dunkirk.

She said plans first call for applying for a $50,000 planning grant from the state to look at construction possibilities.

While she has met with fire and JEMS individuals, Davidson said she would be meeting with Dunkirk’s Town Council members next Monday to discuss the plans.

Discussion has included placing a new structure in Dunkirk’s industrial park or tearing down the old fire house and constructing a new one on that site.

Davidson said once the planning grant is approved, a construction grant for the project would be sought.

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“Why can’t the city make its own decision about where they want it?” commissioner Milo Miller Jr. asked Davidson during the discussion of the proposed project. “Dunkirk needs to make that decision.”

Additionally today, commissioners Miller, Theurer and Faron Parr approved a request from Anita Mills, Jay County Assessor, for $12,500 to purchase new software and two new computers for her office.

Commissioners also learned that the cost to replace the roof on the Hanni Building on West Main Street, a building the county bought a couple years ago as a site for a possible Jay County Jail expansion, would cost more than $20,000.

Jay County Courthouse superintendent Roger McBride presented two bids he had received for the project.

“I’d rather Band-Aid it for a while,” Theurer said about the costs.

Inman Roofing of Portland submitted bids of $22,000 to replace the upper roof and $19,750 to put on a new lower roof.

Additionally, Five Star Commercial Roof Inc. of Hartford City, submitted bids that ranged from $25,620 to $32,540 to replace both roofs.

Miller, who is also a contractor, said he would look at the roof himself before approving any work.

Commissioners did approve McBride’s request to purchase shelving for the basement of the courthouse at a cost of $1,700. McBride, who was made purchasing agent, said the new shelves would be used to store courthouse documents.

Concerning old records in the basement, Miller questioned McBride about any records that could be shredded and they discussed renting a large shredder to take care of several boxes of unnecessary records.[[In-content Ad]]