Kenosha---Two fire stations would close and be merged into a brand new "super" station in a proposal that's under review by administration, aldermen and the firefighters' union, WGTD News has learned.
The two stations targeted for closure are actually the city's busiest--Station Five on the near north side at 22nd Ave. and Washington Road, and Station Three, at the corner of 22nd and Roosevelt.
The new station--possibly a four or five-bay model similar to what was recently put up in Pleasant Prairie, would be built at 22nd Ave. and 52nd St. on land that's currently occupied by a long-ago shuttered elementary school that's become a bit of a neighborhood white elephant. The location is about half-way between the two existing stations that figure into the plan.
The catalyst for the project is the need to rebuild Station Five, according to Public Safety and Welfare Committee Chair Rocco LaMacchia. The station is no longer suitable for today's larger and heavier fire trucks, and needs to be replaced sooner rather than later, LaMacchia said.
Originally, Mayor Antaramian proposed building a new station on land adjacent to the current structure.
The super station idea was developed during a recent casual conversation LaMacchia said he had with a couple of firefighters. "I went to the mayor and he liked the idea," LaMacchia said. "Nothing is set in stone yet," LaMacchia cautioned.
Unresolved issues remain, such as the exact locations of rescue squads.
And the council members whose districts encompass the stations that are targeted for closure may also be reluctant to support the change, LaMacchia noted.
The first official look at the plan is expected to be taken Wednesday evening at a meeting of the city council's Public Works Committee.
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To contact the writer email coled@gtc.edu