East Berne Fire Company gets $2.7M bond approved

Wednesday, July 13, 2022 - 18:14

EAST BERNE — Voters of the East Berne fire district overwhelmingly approved a $2.7 million bond for that district’s fire company, which will use the money — plus around $300,000 the company has in reserve — to build a new station. 

Seventy-five voters were in favor of the bond while six were against, a percentage-split of roughly 93-to-7. 

The tax impact for residents in the district, which covers 100 square miles, was estimated by fire Commissioner Mary Alice Molgard to be around $100-per-year for the average homeowner. 

The company is in desperate need of additional space, Fire Chief Scott Duncan told The Enterprise last month, as some of their equipment is no longer able to fit inside the current station, which is on Main Street in the hamlet.

The new station will be built at 792 Helderberg Trail, which the company purchased almost a decade ago. It’s currently the site of a temporary training structure that is expected to be made permanent. 

Duncan said that the company expects to sell the current station. 

The new station will also make it easier for the company to hold fundraisers and fall in line with provisions established by the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

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