By Jim Stevens
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
DELAFIELD, Wis. — In the cramped, antiquated fire station on Maple Avenue, town officials made an impassioned plea Tuesday to more than 30 town residents for a new firehouse to be built off Golf Road near the Town Hall.
The majority of residents in attendance seemed supportive of the $4 million project that will be on the Nov. 2 ballot, but some questions were raised as to cost, the size and timing of the project.
With six weeks to the election, town officials and members of the fire department made a pitch for the new 14, 800-square-foot facility and asked the residents to lobby their neighbors to say yes to borrowing the money.
If the referendum passed, the town would sell the Maple Avenue land, which has an estimated value of $300,000, and the money would go to pay down the debt. The tax impact is estimated at 20 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation, meaning the owner of a house valued at $400,000 would pay $80 a year in taxes.
“This is a slum compared to what has been built in this county in the last 10 years,” said Supervisor Russ Ackley, who serves as liaison to the fire department.
Ackley said the nearly 50-year-old building is inadequate with not enough room for the fire trucks, insufficient room for training, and is no longer in the best location to serve the residents of the town.
Residents in attendance saw the bays jammed with fire trucks and equipment, a small kitchen area with an adjacent bathroom for women that is less than ideal, and an overall structure that has seen better days.
“This organization touches every person in this town. Every man, every woman, every child is protected by this force. You need it,” Ackley said.
Fire Chief Dean Richards said the department has outgrown the facility.
Richards said the newest truck that will be delivered later this year will not fit in the Maple Avenue station. If the referendum is not passed, walls will have to be taken out so the truck can fit inside.
Despite the shortcomings, “the performance level is incredible,” Richards said. However, that maybe short lived as department members have become frustrated. “The town does not give a rat’s patoot,” said Richards who called the facility “an embarrassment.” In November 2004 town residents said no to three questions: whether to construct a new fire station at the current site at a cost of about $1.76 million; to construct a combined fire station and town hall facility at the Golf Road site at a cost of about $2.05 million; or to build a new fire station to replace the Maple Avenue facility.
In 2008, the board endorsed a conceptual plan for a 19, 850-square-foot, firehouse/town hall on the Town Hall property, but shelved those plans as the economy went sour.
Richards said if the referendum fails, “the morale, dedication and level of service will go down.” Town chairman Paul Kanter said the alternative would be more expensive as the town may have to join the Lake Country Fire Department or contract for fire services, just as the Village of Pewaukee does with the City of Pewaukee.
“If this fails, think about consolidation,” said Kanter.
Resident George Slansky asked about adding metal buildings or double wide trailers to the current station.
The idea was dismissed as it would not fit the department’s needs and metal buildings would not fit in with the residential neighborhood.
Another resident asked why have a referendum now.
“I see what you are saying but not this year,” the man said, who noted “this is a rich community” and that $80 was “nothing.” “This department will be in the (toilet) before the economy is out of it,” Richards said. James Klauser, a former town supervisor more than 30 years ago said he was surprised the building has not already been condemned. “I’m surprised you can still use it. It’s time to replace it,” Klauser said.
Lt. Jim Dunker of the fire departmentbegged the residents for help.
“Your pagers are going off. How are you going to respond?” Dunker asked.
Copyright 2010 Journal Sentinel Inc.