Officials mull plans for old fire station

Since the new fire station at the corner of Douglas Street and Devon Drive is over halfway completed, the Vermilion mayor has suggested that the old fire station at 5467 Ohio St. should see new life after it’s vacated.

Mayor Jim Forthofer said during a recent Vermilion City Council Legislative Committee meeting that he gets inquires about every week from organizations interested in acquiring the space.

Although Forthofer said the decision of what happens to the building is ultimately up to council vote, Councilwoman At-Large Monica Stark said since initial discussion was that the fire department would keep the building, she thinks what happens to the building should be up to them.

Fire Chief Chris Stempowski said during the meeting that the department could always find a use for the building, but would entertain the idea of selling it once the department has moved into the new station.

Station 3, located on Devon Drive, also is being vacated by the department, with the building to be of use for the city service department.

Stempowski said the original plan was to use the fire station 1 location as the fire station 3 new building.

He said the city has until December, when the new fire station is set to be completed, to finalize plans for the old fire station 1, as there will also be a transition period for the fire department to vacate the old building going into 2021.

Public interest

A handful of residents expressed interest in the building during the meeting for their respective organzations.

Dale Zellers of the Lions Club said the old fire station is of interest for his club, with the possibility of the club’s existing property to be used by the fire department.

He said the property is near the Lucy Idol Center Inc., consists of eight acres of field, a kitchen, bathrooms and a garage that the fire department could use for storage or training instead of the old fire station building.

Additionally, the Vermilion Fire Company Corporate Social Club is interested in taking over the building.

Rodney Johnston, president of the group, said pancake breakfasts and other events could be held in the old fire station. He has written up a proposal stating that the fire department could use the facility at any time.

The club would maintain the upkeep of the building and would keep the building as its headquarters, Johnston said.

JORDANA JOY — THE MORNING JOURNAL Vermilion City Council is pondering the potential sale of Fire Station 1at 5467Ohio St. in Vermilion, after the Vermilion Fire Department moves to the new fire station next year.