PLYMOUTH — Discussion continued on Monday at the meeting of the Plymouth Common Council regarding the state of repair on both the Police and Fire stations in the city.
Plymouth Fire Chief Steve Holm had made an open invitation for Council members to take a tour of his facility and discuss his vision for the department, an invitation that has been accepted by all the current Council members. A week ago, Councilman Randy Longanecker commented to the Council on his tour stating that he found the roof in desperate need of repair and as a contractor by profession had seen other things that made him question the safety of the building.
Monday Councilman Duane Culp commented on his tour of the facility, urging the re-forming of a study committee to look at solutions to the structural problems of the current firehouse saying “it can’t wait”.
Culp and Lenganecher confirmed “40-50 areas of the roof leaking” and also mold in the basement of the structure.
Mayor Robert Listenberger added that the study should include the police station as well saying that that structure had similar problems that were in desperate need.
A committee had been formed previously to consider a study but was abandoned as too costly. Listenberger urged taking on the consulting firm previously considered for a study of the city’s needs for both fire and police to make a decision that would impact the next 75 years for the city.
The consultant study would provide the city with a breakdown of the most efficient use of city dollars for the two departments if they would need a combined facility, satellite facilities, and other such possibilities.
Saying that “the longer we let it linger the more it’s going to cost” Listenberger supported and the Council voted for the re-forming of the committee and looking into a study that was originally anticipated to cost $60-$80,000.
