City Council discusses issues with the building at fire department

During last week’s Plymouth Common Council meeting, Councilman Randy Longanecker said he visited the Plymouth Fire Department with Assistant Chief Chuy Garcia.  He said some good things are happening at the fire station, and some concerns need addressing. 

For some time, there have been discussions of addressing issues at both the fire station and police department with the possibility of a new facility down the road for 8 to 10 years. Longanecker said some needs, including the roof, should be addressed sooner rather than later. He said they must put buckets around the facility to capture the rainwater and melting snow leaking through the roof. Longanecker said water on the flood presents a liability for the city if an employee were to slip and fall. He said, “This is an immediate need.” 

Councilwoman Linda Starr toured the fire department and said, “It was quite enlightening. I was really surprised at what needed to be done. It’s more than just a couple of issues.”  Starr went on to say they all need to be addressed.

Mayor Listenberger told the council, “That is why they have started down the road at replacing the building at some point.”  He said the building has seen its better days. He told the council members they must weigh in on the decision process. Should we spend a few hundred thousand dollars to fix the roof now, knowing that in 6 to 8 years, they could be constructing a new joint facility?     

Fire Chief Steve Holm joined the discussion and said he had passed quotes for the roof that would fix it as a band-aid or a better fix. He is in the process of getting updated quotes but told the council the repairs to the roof were in the high two figures and low three figures. The chief invited the other council members to visit the building and examine the issues. 

Longanecker, who has a background in construction, pointed out issues with the beams, plaster popping off the walls, and visible rust. He mentioned that the roof is causing additional problems.

City Councilman Duane Culp mentioned that the department is also outgrowing. There are additional full-time staff to accommodate, and they have run out of space for more equipment.   

Mayor Listenberger reminded members that the facility was originally the Coca-Cola bottling plant.  The facility isn’t laid out efficiently for the firefighters and new technology.

The city will address the concerns at the fire department and the police station over the next few months. The mayor stated that this will be a significant community project over the next decade or two. He urged council members who have visited to do so again and to be ready to provide guidance moving forward.