Station still slated for 2017

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Delaware’s fourth fire station is expected to open in the southeastern part of the city in 2017.

The announcement was made at a recent meeting with the Glenross Homeowners Association by city officials.

Thanks to a permanent tax levy passed by voters in 2010, the city purchased 2.5 acres of land across from SourcePoint of Delaware County at 821 Cheshire Road for Fire Station 304 in 2011.

Ground will be broken in 2016. Once open, the station will be staffed around the clock, with three personnel (two of whom are firefighters/paramedics) assigned to the station. A concept design shows the station’s main entrance will be on Glenn Parkway.

The fire department has said it responds to more than 5,000 service calls annually, a 40 percent increase since 2002 that nearly matches the city’s 43 percent population growth since 2000. The fire department said this growth was why it asked for the levy.

The levy passage allowed the city to build and staff the third (at 1320 W. Central Ave.) and fourth stations, replace old equipment and establish a capital replacement plan.

Just below where the fourth station will go is the Delaware Area Career Center’s south campus on U.S. 23. DACC will consolidate its two current locations into the south campus. DACC’s fire service training program is currently held at the north campus, 1610 State Route 521. Graduates from the program staff the Tri-Township local fire district, among others, said DACC spokeswoman Alicia Mowry.

“The local fire departments have all been weighing in on how we best continue to offer their fire program with this building consolidation project,” Mowry said. “They’re really invested in helping us design how it’s going to look.”

Delaware Fire Chief John Donahue said the career center has inquired about putting a working fire station on its south campus.

“The Career Center has asked us to look at it, and we are looking at what impact that would have, but there’s been no commitment either way,” Donahue said.

The southern portion of the future Fire Station 304 is on Cheshire Road.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/07/web1_DSCF4432.jpgThe southern portion of the future Fire Station 304 is on Cheshire Road.

By Gary Budzak

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Gary Budzak may be reached at 740-413-0904 or on Twitter @GaryBudzak.

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