Sylvania Township shelves sale of fire station

4/2/2004

Sylvania Township trustees yesterday decided to shelve the idea of selling fire-station land at Monroe Street and Whiteford Road and use the proceeds to pay some of the cost of a new station at Monroe and Corey Road.

Dennis Boyle, chairman of the trustees, said that because a recent study showed a need to move the established four stations to new locations and possibly build a fifth, it was better to try to put together a comprehensive plan than move forward on the sale of the Whiteford property.

He said trustees had considered sale/buy because an offer to buy the Whiteford property came at the same time land at Corey and Monroe was for sale.

The sale of the Whiteford property was expected to be for about $1 million, and the township had signed a purchase agreement for the Corey property for $575,000.

That offer was contingent, however, on the sale of the Whiteford land, and trustees instructed Brad Peebles, township administrator, to rescind that agreement.

The possible move had brought many residents of Corey Road and from Monroe Street near Corey to recent trustees' meetings objecting to the idea.

They claimed Corey was too narrow to be a good route for fire trucks and that the location would hamper equipment needing to go north or south to respond to an emergency.

They also charged that the township was making an incursion into what they described as a quiet, established residential neighborhood.

Carol Gildemeister, of Corey Road, thanked trustees at yesterday's meeting for listening to the residents' concerns.

She said they understand the needs of the fire department and they hope to support township efforts in the future.

Carol Contrada, a trustee, said the township hopes to form a committee to look at the study recommendations and to involve other citizens' groups before deciding what action might be needed.

Mr. Boyle said a committee of about 12 people will be formed to look at alternatives for the department.

Township officials have considered putting a levy on the November ballot for the fire department.