North Township official shows public $14 million fire station

Lina PortmanMay 29, 2024

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Young's 45-minute presentation is part of the city's campaign to gain public support for a possible tax increase to fund the station.
Young presented a slide presentation stating that the city's two current fire stations do not provide enough space for firefighters to do their jobs optimally.

NORTH TOWNSHIP − Discussions continue over a potential campaign to seek a tax increase to fund a new fire station.

City public policy analyst Benjamin Young gave a 45-minute presentation Tuesday evening explaining the need for a $14 million firefighting facility.

The proposed site is at North Main and Viking Street NW, the former location of Randy's Automotive. This location would allow firefighters to respond anywhere in the city in 6 minutes. If built, the fire department would likely stop using its current fire stations located at 300 N. Main St. and 345 Seventh St. NE.

Related:North Township officials release more details on new fire station

Northern Township options to finance a new fire station

Young said a focus group of eight mayoral appointees and seven council members will recommend to the council, by the end of June, how to raise the $14 million needed.

The group will likely consider an income tax rate increase of 0.25%, from the current 1.5% to 1.75%. That would raise an additional $1.39 million, more than the minimum of $950,000 in revenue per year. Young believes the city needs to finance the debt repayment and interest it would incur to build the station. Ohio law only allows income tax rate increases in increments of 0.25 percent. The focus group would also consider a property tax increase, possibly by 1.7 mill.

And all eight would consider recommending that the council repeal the commuter tax credit entirely or in part. This credit protects thousands of Northern Township residents who work in other cities and pay income taxes to those cities from paying Northern Township income taxes.

The City Council is already taking steps to impose a replacement road tax with an increase on the Nov. 5 ballot. Voter approval would be required to increase the city's income tax rate, increase the rate of an existing property tax or establish a new property tax. Eliminating the tax credit would only require a council vote.

Young said that contrary to what has been said previously, the city cannot maintain vital services and build the fire station without an additional source of revenue.

He did not deny referring to the promise made in January by Patrick DeOrio, then director of administration, that even if voters rejected a 0.5 percent increase in the income tax, the city would find a way to build the fire station. Voters rejected the increase in the March 19 primary.

Three board members, Matthew Stroia, At-Large; Christina Weyrick, At-Large; and Melissa Owens, of Ward 3, met with the administration in March and April, Young said. They asked officials to mount a campaign to build support for a tax increase that would go only to fund the new fire station, said Young, who has scheduled three public presentations in May and tours of the fire station for the public.

Young said that even if the council chose to disband the city's dispatch center, it would save about $350,000 a year, not enough to cover the cost of paying off the fire station's bonds. firefighters. When asked if he was looking to reduce tax increases and cut spending, Young said council members were only looking for options to increase revenue to cover the entire cost of the barracks. firefighters.

Why does North Canton need a new fire station?

Construction of the fire station will cost $10 million. The cost of designing it, hiring a contractor to handle construction and supplying the furniture and equipment will cost an additional $2 million. And associated site work and external improvements will cost about $2 million, Young said, assuming work on the station begins now.

Under the current 2023 design, the fire station would include 10 dormitories with one bed each, six 70-foot bays capable of accommodating modern fire engines, ample storage space, five offices, a decontamination room, a fire tower, watering, 33 parking spaces, a training room. room and a fitness room. It would be equipped with a negative pressure system and airlock corridors to prevent toxic substances and smoke from fire engines from spreading into living quarters and offices.

Young said the city needs the fire station because:

The city's two fire stations, which were never designed to accommodate full-time firefighters, lack sleeping quarters with a modicum of privacy, particularly when it comes to their showers.
Both stations do not have bays or ramps large enough to accommodate modern fire engines.
Both stations lack parking spaces.
Stations do not have sufficient storage space for fire-fighting equipment. Much of the equipment is kept at other city facilities like the civic center, city hall and a water treatment plant. which results in response delays.
Both stations lack decontamination rooms and negative pressure equipment. This allows toxic substances picked up on firefighters' clothing and equipment during a fire to spread. Firefighters have a much higher risk of developing cancer.
Firefighters do not have enough indoor training spaces and offices.
The number of calls to fire or rescue services increased by nearly 44%, from 2,693 in 2013 to 3,869 last year, as the population ages and experiences more health problems.
Once the station is built, the city will save $7.5 million over 50 years by only needing four fire engines instead of six at one location; save on overtime paid to part-time firefighters by having more full-time firefighters scheduled to work; save money by keeping one station versus two; collect proceeds from the sale of the former North Main Street station; earn revenue from renting the Seventh Street NE station for recreational purposes and save on off-site training costs.

Lina Portman

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