NORTH HARMONY - Fire commissioners may be used to clearing the air of fires, but most recently, they are hoping results of resident surveys about what to do with property Ashville station No. 1 is located on will clear the air of controversy.
Town Supervisor Sally Carlson said fire commissioners were recently notified insurance carriers would no longer insure the Ashville station due to it no longer being suitable for inhabitation. Fire commissioners, therefore, moved equipment out of the building into the district's newly built Stow station. The Stow station recently underwent construction when an addition was built on to the station for a 150-person meeting room and three truck bays that more than doubled the size of the facility.
Gayle Martin, chairwoman of the fire commissioners, said the Stow station was "many years in the dreaming stage." As its construction is coming to completion, she said, the insurance carrier did the inspection of the Ashville station and wanted to pull insurance. Equipment was moved and the older building, which sits near Goose Creek, was locked. Architects have recommended it be torn down.
Next, she said, commissioners are seeking input from taxpayers of the district about what to do in Ashville. A newsletter and short survey was sent updating residents and asking whether the pole barn that sits on the same property as Ashville's station No. 1 should be refurbished to keep some equipment there, whether both the station and pole barn should be torn down or whether a small building should be constructed in Ashville to replace the station she said has "slowly been crumbling."
"Some taxpayers are very concerned," said Ms. Martin. She said some feel if there is no fire equipment presence in Ashville there will not be as much protection, so the opportunity is being afforded to them to retain a presence with the refurbished pole barn or construction of a small building.
"Fire protection is still here," however, she said, adding that is true whether there is an actual Ashville building or not. She said fire protection will never decrease and said mutual aid is "the No. 1 thing" anyway. Besides, she said, emergency medical technicians live throughout the area and will respond to the scene, not the fire hall when needed.
"We do not feel there will be any loss of protection than what we know provide," she said, adding, however, resident input will be sought so there is a public direction for commissioners. She said they have not yet explored costs to each of the options, as they are awaiting to get that public direction. The only thing so far decided, she said, is that the older building that can no longer be insured will be demolished.
A meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Stow Fire Hall when the survey results will be discussed.