One of the items on the April 17, 2014 village board agenda was a decision to conduct a Site Facility Assessment at Heritage Park on behalf of the Richfield Volunteer Fire Company.
In 2005 a study was conducted to determine potential future fire safety needs for Richfield. The study concluded that the station on Hwy 175 should be torn down. The study recommended a new fire station should be built at that location and a second new station near the center of the village preferably on village property.
In 2013 the RVFC chose not to tear down the Hwy 175 station. Rather they saved tax payer money by raising the roof to accommodate the size of new fire trucks and equipment. Now they must look to the future to determine where is the best location to build a headquarters and continue to save taxpayer dollars while keeping a great volunteer fire company.
In 2005 a study was conducted to determine potential future fire safety needs for Richfield. The study concluded that the station on Hwy 175 should be torn down. The study recommended a new fire station should be built at that location and a second new station near the center of the village preferably on village property.
In 2013 the RVFC chose not to tear down the Hwy 175 station. Rather they saved tax payer money by raising the roof to accommodate the size of new fire trucks and equipment. Now they must look to the future to determine where is the best location to build a headquarters and continue to save taxpayer dollars while keeping a great volunteer fire company.
Gil Frank was the first person to speak during Public Comments. His comments are noted below as well as a response by Village President John Jeffords.
RT is surprised that Gil who listed 4 out of 5 items pertaining to municipal and fire department experience on his election flyer is now not in support of the RVFC. Who is leading him by the nose? Does he not bleed red anymore like he tried to make residents think when reading his political trash. Could Gill be confused?
"Now that the election is over the village board wants to spend another $7,000 to see how big a fire department building they should build next to the village hall which can cost up to the maximum the public works ordinance would allow without referendum which is over $ 4 Million dollars. Bringing the fire station up at this meeting is the same method the village board used to pass the public works ordinance that gave them a loop hole to spend large amounts of money without public input the week of July 4th 2012. Now the board plans this big spending project the Thursday before Easter when most people will be at church or out of town on vacation for Easter holiday. It is miraculous how we find their money for new projects in the village but not enough to repair and maintain our roads first. As our elected officials you have deemed yourselves more knowledgeable than us, voting yourself the power to made decisions too complex for us. This is your opportunity to demonstrate you wish to inform the electorate before authorizing a multimillion dollar project like the fire station and not start down the road that will only lead to taking more of our money. Please vote no on the agenda item six. A better option would be deemed to buy the land next to station 2 with the money collected from fire impact fees. Friess Lake school district bought the land with a farm dump next to their school campus so the school could expand in the future and the district did not have to give back the impact fees collected by the developers."
President Jeffords commented after Gils comments.
"Gil, you are giving the impression that that board is voting and approving a capital improvement project tonight. That is not the case. What we are debating is a facility study that studies the situation. If it ever comes to approval that will be in the future."
RT is surprised that Gil who listed 4 out of 5 items pertaining to municipal and fire department experience on his election flyer is now not in support of the RVFC. Who is leading him by the nose? Does he not bleed red anymore like he tried to make residents think when reading his political trash. Could Gill be confused?
"Now that the election is over the village board wants to spend another $7,000 to see how big a fire department building they should build next to the village hall which can cost up to the maximum the public works ordinance would allow without referendum which is over $ 4 Million dollars. Bringing the fire station up at this meeting is the same method the village board used to pass the public works ordinance that gave them a loop hole to spend large amounts of money without public input the week of July 4th 2012. Now the board plans this big spending project the Thursday before Easter when most people will be at church or out of town on vacation for Easter holiday. It is miraculous how we find their money for new projects in the village but not enough to repair and maintain our roads first. As our elected officials you have deemed yourselves more knowledgeable than us, voting yourself the power to made decisions too complex for us. This is your opportunity to demonstrate you wish to inform the electorate before authorizing a multimillion dollar project like the fire station and not start down the road that will only lead to taking more of our money. Please vote no on the agenda item six. A better option would be deemed to buy the land next to station 2 with the money collected from fire impact fees. Friess Lake school district bought the land with a farm dump next to their school campus so the school could expand in the future and the district did not have to give back the impact fees collected by the developers."
President Jeffords commented after Gils comments.
"Gil, you are giving the impression that that board is voting and approving a capital improvement project tonight. That is not the case. What we are debating is a facility study that studies the situation. If it ever comes to approval that will be in the future."
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