From our partners at WRJN
Kenosha---Fire department command staff made a pitch Wednesday night for a major realignment of resources that includes merging two existing stations into a larger, centrally-located fire house that would be built on the site of a former elementary school. The presentation came at a meeting of the city's Public Works Committee.
The overriding goal of the plan is to decrease response times. "I think this is going to lead to more efficiency which is going to (lead to greater) quality of care and better service to our citizens," said the department's medical director, Dr. Charles Cady. The realignment would not result in any reductions in either personnel or equipment.
The stations that would be decommissioned are both located on 22nd Ave.---one on the north side near Washington Road and the other on the near south side at Roosevelt. The site for the proposed station is about half way between those two locations--at 22nd and 52nd St. The former Bain Elementary School would be demolished to make way for the new fire house.
Absent from Wednesday night's discussion were cost estimates and time lines. Those items are expected to come up for discussion during budget meetings this fall.
Committee Chair Dave Bogdala supported the proposal. "I'm glad we now have an opportunity to put forth the changes that the fire department would like to see and that many of us have been screaming for at the top of our lungs for the better part of five years," he said.
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