“The public needs to weigh in,” appealed Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board President Bill Dixon, referring to the fate of Syracuse Fire Station 1, located at 402 N. Huntington St.

Two opposing plans to renovate the 50-year-old station were discussed at the board’s regular monthly meeting last night. Increase in calls and the size of the fire department have determined the need for an update to the fire station.

How to proceed in renovating the fire station is slated to be discussed, and possibly voted upon, at the next Turkey Creek Fire Territory Executive Board meeting on Dec. 13.

According to Dixon, he and fire territory executive board member Dennis Darr are in favor of adding a second story to the station, while board members Bill Musser and Jeff Morgan support a one-story renovation plan. Fire chief Mickey Scott says a second story addition meets the fire department’s needs, while the one-story option is inadequate.

“Musser and Morgan are not willing to move on their stance,” said Dixon. “At this point, it’s all up to (Brad) Jackson (fifth member of the fire territory executive board). It’s his vote that will make the difference. The public needs to make his phone ring. He is a fair person and a good listener.”

Plans to renovate the fire station date back at least two years, when an inspection to determine the feasibility of adding a second story to Fire Station 1 was conducted, said Scott. Since then, plans to add a second story to the station have been drawn. However, a one-story alternative plan was requested by members of the executive board. This alternative plan was presented to board members in September.

“There is a misconception that tax rates in town have increased due to the fire department, but that is not true,” said Scott. “Not one cent of the town budget goes to the fire department. It is all from the township budget.”

A total of $725,500 in taxes have already been collected over the past several years in order to renovate the fire station. A second story addition is slated to cost approximately $425,000, which is approximately $300,500 less than the originally projected cost. The one-story renovation is slated to cost approximately $268,000, which is approximately $457,000 less than the originally projected cost.

“(Musser and Morgan) think they are doing the taxpayers well by doing the least they can do to get by. They think they are being more fiscally responsible. But, we (Dixon and Darr) think: let’s build with a mind to two decades into the future or more. Although it’s a higher total cost (to build a second story), it’s half the cost per square foot. The public is not going to be best served by the one-story plan,” said Dixon.

“The funds for the renovation to Fire Station 1 were collected over a long period of time. These funds have already been accumulated,” said Scott. “In the one-story plan, the department does not increase its usable square footage. We lose half a bay. There is not enough space for medical storage. In eight or so years, we would need to look at another addition, because the one-story plan is not adequate for the department’s current or future needs.

“The fire department personnel work 24 hour shifts. They need a second story for rooms to sleep without being disturbed by other things going on in the bays downstairs. They need to be well rested to be ready within 3 minutes of waking up to respond to a call. There are more activities that go on in the fire station than most people realize,” added Scott.

“I believe the value that the town (Musser and Morgan) is not considering is the human value,” said advisory board member, Kim Cates. “They are not considering what is best for the fire and EMT personnel, what they need. Their stance makes the fire department feel like they are not appreciated.”

The Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at Fire Station 2, 8138 E. McClintic Rd.