‘It’s a huge safety issue’ Aldermen seek funds to repair undermined fire station floor BY JOE WARD jward@kenoshanews Significant cracks in the floor of Kenosha Fire Station 5 have weakened it so much that fire trucks and ambulances can no longer park in that part of the fire house. Water from a drain pipe led to the cracks, and city officials are trying to figure out how to fund repairs. An engineer will be hired to determine the costs, Fire Chief John Thomsen said. “We are taking precautions to address that,” Thomsen said. “There is some damage to the concrete. We take that very seriously, because we want the best amenities for our firefighters.” While city officials wait on the repair estimate, the City Council will debate how to fund the work. One group, led by Alderman Dave Bogdala, wants to use funds earmarked for another Fire Department project. Mayor Keith Bosman and Thomsen believe there is enough funding in the Capital Improvement Plan to address the concrete concerns. Making do Fire Station 5, at 2125 Washington Road, was built in 1957. The leaking drain in the floor caused the cracks in the concrete to widen and has caused damage to the steel reinforcement in the concrete, Thomsen said. There’s also a basement under the floor, though it is not heavily used, Thomsen said. Because of the damage, the station’s ambulance has to go out a back garage door, rather than the front. “Is it more time-consuming? Yes,” Thomsen said. “But our operators are trained to handle our equipment in the most efficient and professional manner.” Each year, the department is allotted $75,000 for maintenance. That money is generally spent on a number of projects, but Thomsen said his department will allocate as much as needed to repair Station 5. “We will prioritize what is essential,” he said. “These buildings are city assets. I applaud the aldermen for taking interest in the buildings.” Council action Using that $75,000 at Station 5 will mean delaying other worthy maintenance projects, Bogdala said. “It’s a huge safety issue,” he said. “How was that not brought up during budgeting?” The aldermen’s request calls for the city to transfer funds earmarked for a Fire Station 4 expansion to go to Station 5 repairs. “Before we move forward on expanding buildings, we should take care of those we have, especially when it’s a public safety concern,” Alderman G. JohnRuffolo said. Expanding Station 4 The plan for Station 4, 4810 60th St., is to add administrative office space. Current Fire Department administration offices are in an inconvenient setting in the Municipal Building, 625 52nd St., accessible only through a parking garage. Because the future of the Municipal Building is uncertain, Bosman said the city thought it best to put the chief and his staff closer to the community. “We didn’t want to invest in city hall, so we thought we’d move it to Station 4,” Bosman said. “It makes sense to add there, because it is centrally located.” The city is waiting on bids for the Station 4 expansion, and Bogdala said it would be wise to hold off on that project until Station 5 is repaired. Bosman said that won’t be necessary, as the city has the necessary funds to tackle both problems at once. “I see no need for this resolution,” he said. “We plan to move forward with both the repairs and the expansion.”
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:50:56 +0000
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