By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
BRADNER—For 25 years, Bradner and its fire department have been dreaming of a new, modern fire station.
The 70-year-old station at 117 E. Crocker St. hasn’t fit the bill for at least 25 years when they first started planning for a new station to better meet the needs of the community and the department.
The current building is not ADA compliant, has one bathroom and little space for fire engines, meetings or for firefighters to easily suit up, according to Bradner Fire Chief Tom Wildman.
The wait is over, he said in a phone interview Monday. The department will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. on May 31 at 117 N. Main St., the address for the new building.
The process has been anything but smooth. There have been countless delays and obstacles ever since the idea was considered. This time, the funding is finalized and the materials have been ordered, Wildman said.
The Bradner Fire Department is funding its new $1.6 million fire station through a combined financial package consisting of a $1.26 million federal grant, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans and a dedicated fire station construction grant fund.
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta’s office helped secure the federal grant in 2021 with the assistance of Ohio Rep. Haraz Ghanbari, who recommended the village receive a grant to replace its outdated fire station.
The grant was initially approved in 2021, but various delays and government shutdowns kept pushing the plans further down the road and increasing the costs. In May 2023, the Village Council established a designated Fire Station Construction Grant Fund to securely manage and document the influx of construction funds.
About a month ago, the USDA representatives visited the current station to confirm the need for the new station, Wildman said.
The current building, built in 1955, was completely paid for through fundraisers and donations. There were no taxpayer funds used for that building, he said. And the North Main Street property where the new station will be built was purchased in the mid-1970s, with the need for a bigger building already recognized. The property purchase was also funded completely through donations.
The new building comes as the department is celebrating its 132nd anniversary, and the village is 150 years old.
The new station will be 7,600 square feet, nearly double the East Crocker Street facility’s 4,000 square feet. The expanded space will provide two drive-through bays for the fire trucks, a kitchen area, meeting rooms, offices, three restrooms, a locker room, and a separate climate-controlled space for the firefighters’ turnout gear. The department currently has 23 firefighters, Wildman said.
The metal materials are due for delivery in August. In advance of the actual build, there will be concrete work completed on the site.
At the May 31 groundbreaking ceremony, a representative from Latta’s office will attend, along with Ghanbari, village officials and firefighters. A reception will follow the ceremony.
