Next Step for LFP Fire Station - 8/7/08

Please read today's Commercial News for more details....

There will be an informative meeting on Wednesday, August 20th at 7pm. Look for more information in the Commercial News. This meeting is for all Lockport, Fabius and Park Township residents.

I'm glad to hear about the meeting on the 20th. All I have is second hand information but it is my understanding that at the last Park Township Board Meeting, we will be taxed out of our homes (sewer, fire and hospital). This will affect Lockport also.

I am wondering if anyone can verify this. I was told by an individual that the plans to build the new fire station have been set. It will be built whether or not Lockport approves the millage. As I was told, Construction will start on it and if Lockport Twp voters do not approve it, then Lockport Twp will not be a part of the association. They will have to contract fire service with either the City or with Fabius ad Park Twps. Is this a "build it and they will pay" threat or what? Has anyone else heard anything like this?

IMO - I heard the same thing. But, I doubt if Lockport would even want to contract from PF townships...they'd be out to screw Lockport...again.

Originally posted by takeastand

IMO - I heard the same thing. But, I doubt if Lockport would even want to contract from PF townships...they'd be out to screw Lockport...again.

Lockport will not be screwed by the other townships. This association has been in place for 50 years. The disagreement is with some voters concerning improvements, not everybody against the other townships. The Fire Board has conducted business as a fire association, buying equipment, maintaining and improving apparatus and training for all these years. It is a cooperative effort. Fabius has the funds to proceed with the station, Park has funding in place (their choice to move forward without a referrendum). Long term, I cannot see a contract situation with any other department being good for Lockport township. We would be paying somebody without any input from our citizens, we would not have any equity (as we do now). The fire service costs "X" dollars, no matter if you are a member of the association or a customer. By the way, I just spoke with someone who asked their insurance agent how much the insurance on their house ($150,000.00 value) would increase if there was NO fire service in Lockport. The agent said around $500.00 per year increase. My agent is re-rating ours now, they thought it would be less than that. So if Lockport does not join with the building project, we will all get to pay $50-$500 more on insurance, and have no fire coverage OR we could pay under $100.00 per year for the station, operation millage AND have the same fire service we now enjoy.

Joint meeting of Fabius, Lockport and Park township boards to discuss fire station project set for Wednesday evening (August 20th)

A joint meeting of the Fabius, Lockport and Park township boards to discuss the project to construct a new fire station for the Fabius-Lockport-Park Townships Fire Department is scheduled for Wednesday evening (August 20th). The community meeting will get underway at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Three Rivers High School.

John Lohrstorfer, who serves as the attorney for all three townships, and Mark Reenders, general contractor for the fire station project, will be on hand to answer questions. The Fabius Township Board took the lead in making arrangements for the meeting after voting last week to state its preference to move forward with construction of a new fire station with the cost to be split evenly between Fabius and Park townships, construction to begin as soon as possible, and the understanding that Lockport Township would be welcome to join in at a later date once its financing is in order.

The move by Fabius officials followed action by the Lockport Township Board on August 11th to put two fire service-related millage proposals one for operations, the other to fund the township's share of the cost of building a new fire station on the November 4th general election ballot. The same proposals were rejected by Lockport Township voters in primary election balloting on August 4th, creating uncertainty about the future of fire service to the township.

Source: River Country Journal

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I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery. ~Author Unknown

Fabius & Park townships move forward with fire station project

Work to construct a new fire station for the Fabius-Lockport-Park Townships Fire Department will begin soon following actions taken by boards from all three townships Wednesday evening (August 20th). The moves came at the end of a nearly two-and-a-half hour joint meeting of the Fabius, Lockport and Park township boards in the Performing Arts Center at Three Rivers High School.

Approximately 80 area citizens joined the full complement of board members from each of the townships for the "community meeting" prompted by the rejection of two fire service-related millage proposals by Lockport Township voters on August 5th. Mark Reenders, general contractor for the fire station project, and John Lohrstorfer, who serves as the attorney for all three townships, were also on hand.

Fabius Township Supervisor Bob McDonough moderated the session and noted at the outset that the gathering was an "official meeting" of the three township boards. And he said, "We're here to continue the community conversation about building a new Lockport-Fabius-Park fire station." After nearly two hours of comments, questions and discussion and a brief recess township officials began their deliberations.

McDonough noted the stance taken by the Fabius Township Board last week in stating its preference to move forward with construction of a new fire station with the cost to be split evenly between Fabius and Park townships, construction to begin as soon as possible, and the understanding that Lockport Township would be welcome to join at a later date once its financing is in order. The Park Township Board then approved on a 3-to-2-vote a motion to move forward with the project on that basis. The Lockport Township Board followed up by approving a resolution to allow Fabius and Park townships to build a fire station on the Broadway Road property jointly owned by the three townships, also on a 3-to-2 vote.

The series of actions concluded with unanimous approval by both the Fabius and Park township boards of resolutions to authorize the expenditure of funds for the construction of the proposed fire station. The resolutions called for said construction to begin as soon as possible and with the understanding that after November, Lockport Township, if financially able, may contribute its share toward said construction and; if not, the respective Fabius and ParkTownships will consider their funding and owning the fire station on their own and the dissolution of the three Township joint fire department.

Following the meeting, McDonough commented on the events of the evening and said, "We're going to have a new fire station. The indication I've received from everybody I've talked to in Fabius Township is that we're wholeheartedly supportive of it. So, we are thrilled that Park Township has agreed to join with us to build the new fire station and we hope that, at some point, Lockport Township will be able to come and join in and help support this as well."

McDonough said his understanding is that the general contractor will move forward "as quickly as he can," begin to move dirt "sometime in the next week or so," and "have the building, at least, closed in by winter." McDonough said his understanding is that "it's about a nine-month construction time so, hopefully, we'll be in it in the spring."

Source: River Country Journal

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I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery. ~Author Unknown

FYI - Park and Fabius Boards signed the contract with Mark Reenders Construction yesterday. Construction of the new station will begin asap. Look in the Commercial News (today ?) for details.

Lockport Township Board continues to deal with fire station issues

Issues regarding a new fire station for the Lockport-Fabius-Park (LFP) Townships Fire Department were in the spotlight again Monday evening (September 8th) during the regular monthly meeting of the Lockport Township Board.


In a follow-up to action by the Fabius and Park township boards during a special joint meeting of all three boards on August 20th, the Lockport Township Board adopted a Resolution Regarding Lockport Townships Shared Value in the Proposed Fire Station.


The resolution outlines what will happen should Lockport Township withdraw from the LFP Fire Department or should the department dissolve in the future.


The resolution reflects the unsettled nature of fire service in the township after rejection of two millage propositions by Lockport Township voters on August 5th, one for fire department operations, the other to fund the townships share of the cost for a new fire station. It also reflects the decision by the Fabius and Park township boards to move forward with construction of the new building on Broadway Road and split the cost, but afford Lockport Township the opportunity to join in if it gets its financing in order.


In commenting on the resolution, Supervisor Marty Barth said, This is saying that if youre not contributing to any new additions to the fire station you dont get a third of the fire station value.


Adoption of the resolution came on a 4-to-1 vote with Barth, Treasurer Paul Bungart and Trustees Dannie Bloom and Bob Wortinger voting yes and Clerk Wayne Timm casting the dissenting vote.


The same millage proposals that were rejected by voters in August will be on the ballot again in Lockport Township during the general election on November 4th.


Timm reported that hes seeking cost information from the Centreville, Mendon, LFP and Three Rivers fire departments for contracted fire service. He said, Then we can compare contract price to what we would spend if we approve those two millages. And he added, I thought I would attempt to get all of these prices, put them in the paper, and then everybody can take a look at this and make an educated vote.


In his report as the townships representative on the fire board, Wortinger noted that site preparation work is underway and said that anyone who wants to look at the new building as it takes shape is asked to check in with the construction trailer because theres going to be some safety issues now.


Wortinger also indicated that the next meeting of the fire station building committee is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24th, at 6 p.m. at the current fire station on Millard Road.

Source: Rivercountryjournal.com

Why would Wayne Timm vote this down ? Anyone have any thoughts ?

They wasted no time. The ground has been broken. Park Township's Public Hearing and Regular Board Meeting should be very interesting tonight.

Walkinboots - do you plan on attending Park's (or Fabius) meeting tonight ? If ya do, please fill us in on the details !

takeastand, it doesn't look like I will be attending the Park Township Meeting tonight. I will try to find out what happened and post it as soon as possible.

Nice letter from Tom Brady in TR Commercial yesterday. Does anyone else question how Lockport Township has spent money for the last several years? I know they used approx $150k to build a new township hall, but where has the other money gone? I do not see the best roads, there are still a few dirt roads. According to the county website Lockport has a total taxable value of $204,059,482 and Park has 205,444,690 (this includes personal prop, agricultural, forest, commercial, industrial and non-homestead). So why is Lockport so broke? Since Fabius and Park want to dictate what Lockport should be doing with their money, maybe Lockport should be dissolved and divided between those townships? Must be they are better money managers so maybe the citizens of Lockport would be better off.

Let's just see what the new Lockport Township Supervisor does with the Township. Good letter Mr. Brady !! And how about the front page of the newspaper today ? It's a shame that Flowerfield Township pays $14,000 a yr (min.) for approx half the township, but for the entire township for Lockport, they will charge $100,000 to $150,000. Whatever.