Officials eye new firehouse, police station
DOUGLASS (MONT.) » With the continued deterioration of the Gilbertsville firehouse, township officials are considering knocking it down to build a new emergency services building for fire and police.
During the Feb. 3 supervisors meeting, Supervisor Tom Wynne said the building is in such bad shape that the county will no longer allow it to be used as a polling place on election day and a new polling site is being sought.
Supervisors’ Chairman Josh Stouch said the idea being considered is to give the property, for which the township is now trustee, back to the fire company, according to the minutes from the meeting.
The fire company would then have to borrow money for the project but could avoid some of the bidding rules that would apply if the building is built by the township, according to a report provided by township solicitor Robert Brant at the March 2 supervisors’ meeting.
The township could then lease part of the new building for the police department, which is currently housed in the township building at 1320 E. Philadelphia Ave.
The firehouse is located at 1454 E. Philadelphia Ave.
Township Manager Pete Hiryak said the price range the township is eyeing for the project is between $2.1 million to $2.5 million. “We’d like to keep it in
that range if we can,” she said Tuesday.
State Rep. Marcy Topel, R-147th dist., is looking into a state grant to help cover the cost and the answer may come as soon as June, according to the Feb. 3 meeting minutes.
The design used for the new public works building, built for about $1.2 million two years ago, is being used as a basis for the new building as talks move forward, said Hiryak.
The supervisors are also considering imposing a fire services tax to help cover the costs. Supervisor Alan Keiser noted at the Feb. 3 meeting that the last fund drive for the fire company only had an 11 percent return rate.
A 1 mill fire tax would generate about $660,000 a year for fire services, according to Brant’s March 2 letter.
The firehouse social hall was closed in 2017 and is no longer the lucrative revenue source it once was for covering fire company expenses.
Hiryak said the township’s building committee, which includes township and fire company officials, will meet again in the coming days to continue laying out what would be necessary to move forward.
The supervisors are also considering imposing a fire services tax to help cover the costs. Supervisor Alan Keiser noted at the Feb. 3 meeting that the last fund drive for the fire company only had an 11 percent return rate.