Streetsboro sets proposal for new fire levy
By: Tyler Thompson & Alex Tinline
Streetsboro city council members met this week to discuss the future of building a new fire station, with the passing of a proposed levy in May 2019.
In its current state, the fire station is in horrid conditions. Council woman Carmen Laudato said the bill is a no brainer.
“I mean, we have a functional fire station to a point, it’s not good enough to house all of our equipment and give them their space” Laudato said. “What shocked me was the rest of it, the sleeping quarters reminded me of jail cells, except jail cells would be nicer.”
Fire Chief Robert Reinholz gave Laudato a tour of the station. She found plywood boarding the windows, an indistinguishable stench, buckets on top of Reinholz’ desk collecting water from the A/C units pooling at the ceiling. The buckets lay by his pullout bed where he sleeps.
“These are people who really risk it all,” Laudot said. “So much of the fire station is the old part.”
The fire station is covered in asbestos and health risks for visitors. Signage displayed in the building warns of the potential dangers. The kitchen, while functional, was built in the 1950’s as a cafeteria.
“It really is terrible, I just think there’s so much more that we can do for them,” Laudato said.
While the fire station is a priority among city council, the proposed levy will also add a new city hall, medical office building, wellness center and assisted living center with the left over funds from the station. The levy will cost the Streetsboro homeowner of a $100,000 home $2.92 in taxes per month over 20 years. The city council is hoping that this proposed levy will improve and develop Streetsboro’s downtown area.
City Council woman Julie Field, who is in favor of the levy, expressed concerns for informing voters on what specifically this levy is for. She spoke on the recent failing parks and rec levy in September that would have added a field house and splash pad to the city.
“I think we need to be very careful what we do and do not include in the levy,” said Field. “There was a lot of confusion surrounding that levy [Parks and Rec] so I think if we wanted to go the route of adding another item [wellness center] we need to make sure that it is very clear for the voter,” she said.
Without the levy the council would have to choose between a Town Hall or a new fire station.
“This levy would help us stay within our means,” said Laudato.
The Fire station also sought city councils budget approval for 6 new sets of turn-out gear and re-chassis of one of the three ambulances. The requests by Fire Chief Robert A. Reinholz, which were approved at the meeting, are in not just the best interest for the fire fighters but also the public.
“We would take off the chassis [the box part of an ambulance the patient would be in] and replace the frame, the motor, the transmission, and the tires,” said Reinholz. “By doing this we could potentially save $61,000 instead of having to buy a new one [ambulance] every seven to eight years.”
Streetsboro Fire Station is dilapidated; boarded up windows, buckets collecting falling water, chief sleeps in pullout bed
— Spooky, Scary, Terrifying Tyler (@TylerThompson__) October 22, 2018
Streetsboro City Hall sale finalized as of this afternoon
— Spooky, Scary, Terrifying Tyler (@TylerThompson__) October 22, 2018
“Quarters remind me of jail cells, even jail cells would be nicer.” – Carmen Laudato
— Spooky, Scary, Terrifying Tyler (@TylerThompson__) October 22, 2018
City of Streetsboro as of ‘18 is $7.9 million in debt
— Spooky, Scary, Terrifying Tyler (@TylerThompson__) October 22, 2018
Streetsboro saving $93k moving out of current city hall building
— Spooky, Scary, Terrifying Tyler (@TylerThompson__) October 22, 2018
if that doesn't sound spooky that I don't know what does. Streetsboro Fire Station in hopes that levy will pass so improvements on health and safety for fire fighters can be made https://t.co/dbK40xtjXu
— Alexandra Tinline (@alex_tinline) October 24, 2018
