The city is spending $3,000 (Dr. Robert Fuson, Warsaw, is ponying up the other $3,000) to do a study on whether it would be economically feasible to turn the empty Nissan dealership on Ind. 15 north into a fire station.
OK, I'm on record as saying I don't think this is a good idea - for several reasons.
First, the location isn't that great. There is no pavement cut on Ind. 15, and even if there was, there's tons of traffic out there.
Second, it's a car dealership. It wasn't designed as a fire station. My guess is that it would cost thousands upon thousands of dollars to turn it into a fire station.
Third, it's high-dollar real estate to begin with. The asking price is on the north side of $2.3 million. Is a fire station the best use of prime commercial frontage on Ind. 15?
Fourth, I believe we're in a recession. Federal and state revenues are dwindling. That is inevitably going to trickle right down to the local level. Cities like Warsaw - which will face decreased local tax revenues due to unemployment and property devaluation - are going to be asked by the state to do more with less. Is now the time to undertake this type of project?
Fifth, even if the new fire station would be staffed and equipped initially by spreading around existing resources, you know eventually the city will be buying more equipment and hiring more firefighters.
Now, I am not arguing there is not now and will never be a need for a third fire station on the north side of town.I understand that with the new elementary school being built north of U.S. 30 there will be more housing and a future need for increased fire protecting.
But there's a time and a place for everything.
I don't need a $6,000 feasibility study to tell me this isn't the time and the Nissan dealership isn't the place for a new fire station.
