Geneva seeks planning grant for fire station (08/30/06)

The proposed renovation of Geneva's volunteer fire department headquarters geared up Tuesday when Geneva's Town Council agreed to ask the state for some grant money to get the project under way.

During a public hearing on the renovation of the fire station on Line Street, council members authorized submitting a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) planning grant application to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Wayne Bailey, project developer with Commonwealth Engineers, Inc., Indianapolis, explained the town would be asking for a $50,000 planning grant. The local match will be up to $5,500, Bailey explained, and can be paid from the cumulative fire fund.

In mid-July the council asked for architects to submit proposals for the renovation. From the six the council received, the firm of Prince/Alexander Partners Inc., Indianapolis, was selected to do the preliminary architectural planning.

"We will be here for any public meeting," said Kelly Mills, project manager for Prince/Alexander, and she encouraged the community to submit handwritten letters of support for the project. "Handwritten draws more attention," she said.

"With all the upgrades at Red Gold, they have a vested interest in this fire department, too," Mills said about expansion that is under way at the Geneva tomato processing plant. She encouraged the council to contact officials there for letters of support as well.

The proposed project calls for upgrading the station that has been home to the fire department since the late 1950s.

"We will be looking at the entire lot where the station sits," Mills explained.

Plans include renovating the kitchen, bathroom, and training area as well as the bay where the firetrucks are housed.

Council members Lew Wingler, Jim Timmons, and Mike Schwartz approved a resolution authorizing Bailey to submit the planning grant application.

However, Schwartz asked that he not be involved in any future decisions concerning the project, and the council adopted a resolution concerning potential conflict of interest.

The owner of Limberlost Construction Inc., Schwartz has indicated his business may be interested in submitting construction bids on the project, and he asked to withdraw from any future part of the decision-making process.

Additionally Tuesday night the council appointed Schwartz and town-clerk treasurer, Doug Milligan to the Rails-To-Trails task force for southern Adams County.

Explaining Gov. Mitch Daniel's campaign to create such trails state-wide as well as providing an abundance of funding, Milligan and Schwartz told of the program's plan for connecting Berne and Geneva with a five-mile walking and biking trail using the abandoned Penn Central Railroad bed.

"I think there's enough interest in this to see this happen," Schwartz said.

"The state's putting something together and I think there's enough interest to do it all at once," Milligan continued. "It's only five miles."

"Because of the uniqueness here, I believe you can find funding for this," Bailey advised Milligan. "They have some very innovative funding available."

Milligan said future plans may include connecting Portland to the south and Monroe to the north.

Also Tuesday night the council approved hiring rural Adams County resident Sarah Ellenberger as a part-time employee of the town. She will be working as a clerk in the police department.

Marshal Rob Johnson said at the council's regular meeting Tuesday he would be presenting a recommendation for hiring another patrolman.[[In-content Ad]]