Candidate eyes replacing fire training tower
Meyer says project already in planning stages, work to begin soon
WYNANSTKILL, N.Y. » One of the candidates for Rensselaer County executive wants to see the county make what he says is a investment in the safety of the county’s firefighters, but one of his challengers said that investment is already being made. Assembly man Steven McLaughlin said during a recent interview with The Record that it is vital for the Rensselaer County Fire Training Facility on Macha Lane to receive some muchneeded improvements. McLaughlin, R-Troy, said the current administration under County Executive Kathleen Jimino and her deputy, Christopher Meyer, who will face McLaughlin in a Sept. 12 Republican primary to replace Jimino, has had several years to make necessary upgrades to the facility, but have not done so.
“I am going to build a new fire
training tower out on Macha Lane,” said McLaughlin, “or we’re going to find a way to build it somewhere else if we have to. … They’ve had plenty of time to it get done, and they haven’t.”
McLaughlin said he would make an estimated $300,000 investment to upgrade or replace the tower.
“Right now, you have 41 fire departments — most of whom are volunteer — around here, and they need that training tower to get up to speed,” said McLaughlin. “The current tower is a disgrace. There’s jagged metal, [and] they don’t even use one of the burn rooms because it’s not
safe. … In a $330 million budget, I’m going to find $300,000, and we’re going to build that new tower.”
Meyer, however, said the facility is still functional and that not only has Jimino’s administration been making improvements, but work to replace the tower is already underway. Meyer said the facility was used by 1,390 individuals for a total of 5,102 hours in 2016.
“A cross- section of local first responders was put together by the county about two years ago to design an additional live-burn facility adjacent to the existing training tower,” Meyer said in a statement. “The design specifications are being finalized to address water runoff and ensure compliance with applicable regulations, the county funds for the new facility have
been identified, and we expect construction to begin either in late fall or early spring.
“Sadly, once again, candidate McLaughlin, an instant expert on absolutely nothing related to the county and once again pandering for votes, is spouting off on something he knows little to nothing about.”
Meyer also pointed out that Rensselaer County goes above and beyond what other counties provide for their firefighters.
“Unlike some other counties, Rensselaer County does not charge our individual first-response agencies for the use or construction of the training facility,” said Meyer, “and I am proud of that fact and thankful for the service of all of our volunteers.”