Local tax collecting entities are flush with tax revenue due to the high property taxes and the windfall from sales taxes during the boom time. It's almost as though they are in search of ways to spend all that money.
Building fire stations don't usually get much objection, and the plan for a new Fire Station #5 was presented to interested people the other night in a "town hall" talk and slide show. The old station will be demolished and $4 million building will take its place.
But here's the way it rubbed me the wrong way. There was much talk about how deteriorated the old structure had become. Well, here's a secret that must have been well kept from the decision makers in the city government. Old buildings need upkeep. If the owner doesn't make repairs, the building will eventually deteriorate. The houses in the neighborhood of Station #5 are as old or older than the fire station. Some are in disrepair, and those that got the needed repairs over time are in good shape. It's a shame that no one deemed that old fire station was worth repairing when they were needed. But when you're flush with cash, why not junk it and build a new one? We'll mollify the complainers with that glistening new building.
P.S. One of the first things they plan to do is have the asbestos from the old building removed. We've probably all seen asbestos removal workers decked out in space suits. But what about all those people living down wind from that site? Where are their space suits?
P.P.S. Here's a PDF scan of the Fire station 5 brochure. (Note the handicap parking spot in the firefighters' parking lot. Not sure what to make of that.)
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3:11 PM 5/24/2019
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