Things just keep growing and growing and growing.
And to keep up with the changing needs of an expanding area, the Addison Township Fire Department is growing too ? right into a new building to be located on Rochester Road near the south side of Leonard.
“The new building will replace Fire Hall #1, which is only 1,500 square feet,” explained Fire Chief George Spencer. “Right now we are cramped and we have to shuffle vehicles around so they will fit in the buildings.”
The new fire hall is set for construction on a five-acre parcel of land recently purchased by the township for $155,000.
In order to keep construction plans moving, The Addison Township Board of Trustees recently appointed Fire Chief George Spencer and Assistant Fire Chief William Smith as customer/owner representatives for construction of the new fire hall. Their roles will be as contact points for Schonsheck, Inc., from Wixom, who will be designing the new hall.
“Basically, this person is going to be the contact person for Addison Township,” Spencer said to the township board. “I think it needs to be someone available seven days a week and someone very familiar with fire station operations.”
Township trustees are also considering appointing someone as a resource for Spencer and Smith. The board briefly discussed the possibility of paying someone a small fee for the position. “We could find someone in the township who has a vested interest in the project being done correctly,” said trustee Patricia Eisenhardt.
Township Treasurer Dan Alberty agreed. “I think it would be money well spent.”
“I think having other resources available to us would be very helpful,” Spencer said.
The new fire hall will be a state-of-the-art facility with a unique design that fits aesthetically in the Leonard area. It will include centralized bays with hose, storage/tool and compressor rooms. On one side of the bays will be a 30×40 foot training room/community meeting room, public restrooms, and kitchenette. On the other side will be a physical training room, day room including kitchenette, separate men and women bunk rooms, open-design office space including centralized work stations and conference room.
Spencer said the 12,000 square foot structure is estimated to cost around $100 a square foot, or $1.2 million. The current design contract with Schonsheck, Inc. is priced at $17,950. This price includes three Phases:
n Phase I is the site study which includes soil borings, boundary survey, topographical survey, wetland study and perk test.
n Phase II includes the design development of the new hall.
n And Phase III includes the architectural, civil engineering and landscaping design fees.
The acreage left after the building is complete will be used for training, said Spencer. He added that ideas are being considered for adding a retention pond and dry hydrant. If the design phase goes well, the township hopes to break ground on the new fire hall in late May or early June.