Shown is the preliminary first floor plans for an addition to the existing Tippecanoe Township Fire Territory station along SR 13. The new addition is outlined in red. The new addition will include new dorms, conference room, locker room, gear room, kitchen and a second floor. The drawing in the lower right is the existing “red” house that is used and will continue to be used for training and administrative purposes.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — Tippecanoe Township Fire Territory Board has reviewed several plan proposals for a new fire station at its current site. The board voted Tuesday night, March 19, on plans to move the project forward.

Fire Territory Assistant Chief Dave Rensberger encouraged the board to make a decision. “The station is getting worse. There is cracking in the second bay, out 2 1/2 inches more than before.” It was noted “the bay needs fixed before we have a sink hole.”

The board had been presented plan A and plan B at previous meetings. After discussion with members of the department, the recommendation was to choose plan B.

This plan calls for an addition to the back of the existing station and to the north, tearing down the old theater, but keeping the house. The house is currently being used for training and administrative offices.

Tippecanoe Township Fire Territory Board prepares for its monthly meeting Tuesday, March 19. From left are Mike Wyrick, board member; Jen Cripe, township clerk; Chris Francis, township trustee; Ed Clayton, Lisa Strombeck and David Waliczek, board members. Photo by Deb Patterson.

Rensberger also encouraged the board to approve the plans for a five-bay building west of the current station, on the department’s back lot. “We need some place to put the apparatus during construction.”

The additional building is proposed to be 102 feet by 50 feet, sitting east/west with the five bays opening up toward the south. A building currently on the lot will be demolished.

It was noted that some variances may be needed and vacation of portions of the alleys surrounding the station.

Chris Francis, township trustee, will be meeting with Matt Sandy at the Area Planning office to see what might be needed based on the plans. An estimate on the construction costs for both buildings will be sought.

Francis stated there are funds available for the construction of the new building on the back lot. He noted there is still $180,000 available from the sale of the township building, and $20,000 in the rainy day fund.

Even with this expenditure there are funds still available to pay for the new ambulances arriving this year. He noted he has been checking on bonds and loans for future expenditures on new ambulances for next year.

A timeline for accepting bids on both projects will be discussed at the next meeting. Francis did note that the demolition of the theatre should be included in the bidding on the addition to the existing station.

It was noted there are no grant funds available for the project.

During other discussions, Francis noted he has held discussions with Parkview and LaGrange EMS service regarding issues, including payment of 20-25 ambulance runs into Noble County.

It was noted the new town tornado siren will be moved from the North Webster Elementary School to a location east of the school near CVS.

Francis stated in a couple of years several more sirens will be added based on an old study. One siren is slated to be added next year in the area of EMS B60 and B61 lanes, with additional sirens being added over the following several years in the south Tippecanoe Lake and north Tippecanoe Lake areas.

The board members also were presented a report for the department’s emergency runs since the first of the year. That report showed a total of 195 runs, 145 by the EMS, 15 by the fire department, 13 motor vehicle accidents; 14 fire alarms and eight other emergency calls.

The report also highlighted those calls where the EMS was called out, but due to one ambulance being down, another agency had to respond. Rensberger stated “We don’t have the ambulance parts for one ambulance and we don’t know where it’s at.”