By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green officials took a step Monday evening to deal with safety issues at two of the city’s biggest safety buildings.
Earlier this year, Mayor Mike Aspacher said it’s time to come up with a plan to improve the city’s fire and police stations – and devise a plan to fund those capital projects.
“It’s really important to me that we begin to plan to address police and fire facilities,” he said.
On Monday, that process began in earnest with City Council hearing the first reading of an ordinance to hire professional services for site analysis, concept design and financial projections.
Safety issues at both stations have been a topic of discussion for years. Meanwhile, the number of calls for emergency services continue to grow in the city, particularly for EMS.
“The city has long prioritized quick response times for our citizens and it is our responsibility to begin conversations in earnest to ensure the continued reliability and quality of our safety services well into the future,” the proposed ordinance stated.
“This is the first step in addressing the issue,” Council President Mark Hollenbaugh said after Monday’s meeting. The study, he said, will identify the most effective and cost effective ways to solve the building safety issues.
Once the study is completed, city officials will engage the public in “community conversations” to identify how the city will proceed, Hollenbaugh said.
The east side fire station, on East Court Street, is “structurally unsound,” the mayor said earlier this year. The city worked with a statewide fire chiefs association to determine where the replacement station should be located, and if the city needs more than its current two stations.
“We’re always mindful of response times,” Aspacher said.
As for the police station, it’s not moving. But it needs to expand, the mayor said.
“We will utilize the existing site. It’s really important we maintain a presence in the downtown,” he said.
The core responsibility of city government is to provide vital services, like police, fire and public utilities. From there, the city must address “quality of life” services, such as city parks and public works.
“It’s so important we recognize how these contribute to the quality of life,” Aspacher said.
Court Street Fire Station
A structural analysis in recent years revealed “significant structural deficiencies” in the fire station. Additionally, the aging HVAC system, roof and plumbing are in “desperate need of replacement.”
According to the ordinance, the facility is outdated for today’s workplace as well as the delivery of fire and ambulance services. The living space for firefighters is above the engine room, where vehicles are driving in and out all day, with exhaust permeating into the living quarters.
The fire station was built for an all-male workforce, and the vehicle bays do not fit with the size of today’s equipment. And the slide for firefighters to slide down from their living quarters to the truck bay is not safe for staff responding to emergencies.
Also being considered is the study a few years ago that identified the area where the fire station sits, at the corner of East Court Street and Manville Avenue, as part of a “gateway” to connect BGSU and adjacent neighborhoods with the downtown. A special zoning district was developed for this area, believed to be an economic development opportunity for the city.
Police Station
City leaders are committed to keeping the police headquarters in the historic building in the downtown, at the corner of West Wooster Street and South Church Street.
“As owners of a historic building, we must continue to invest in it and properly maintain it,” the ordinance stated.
That may require investments like new windows and sills, masonry rehabilitation, HVAC replacement and appropriately sized back-up power generation.
The dispatch area of the station has reached capacity in its current space, so the city purchased land and the former small bank to the south of the police station to allow for the eventual addition of a modern communications center and improved public access to police services.
After issue is studied
The proposed ordinance only authorizes contracting of professional services in the planning and concept phases, not to exceed $100,000. Any future actions would need additional legislation, and will only occur after public discussions and consideration by City Council.
