- By Emily Small –
In a series of meetings in mid-November, Island taxpayers were given an opportunity to learn more about, debate, and ultimately vote on the Washington Island Fire Department’s request for new and improved infrastructure.
The Door County Board of Supervisor’s decision this summer to purchase the Historic Island Dairy for an EMS and county services building spurred the WIFD to approach the town about the fire station project sooner rather than later. The option to join the county in developing the Dairy site as a joint facility would need to be considered with the county’s construction schedule in mind.
In light of the county’s plans, the town board is considering what to do moving forward to meet the needs of the WIFD. According to a presentation by the department in August, they have outgrown the existing fire station and are currently housing vehicles and equipment at the airport. They also reported increasing volumes of water rescues and requested the town help finance a larger boat to respond to that growing need.
Earlier this fall, the board authorized supervisor Martin Andersen to get engineering studies and quotes for different proposals on the fire station project. Possibilities for the project include remodeling and adding on to the existing fire station, building a new fire station on the McClaren property, and joining the county to add a fire station to the Dairy building.
More information about these proposals can be found on the town website at: https://washingtonIsland-wi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/tbpkt-2020-11-11sp-1.pdf
To read the story, see this week’s issue of the Observer
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