By Bill Sherman

VOORHEESVILLE — Village and fire-department leaders unveiled preliminary plans Tuesday for a $1.2 million upgrade to the 38-year-old firehouse on Route 156.
Calling the project "functional, not fancy," Mayor Jack Stevens told The Enterprise he estimates the cost to residents to be $80 per household over the next 20 years. The amount would be added to villager’s tax bills.

The engineering firm, Barton and Loguidice, is providing consulting assistance to the village for the project. Richard Straut, senior vice president of the firm, said the fire department needs more space to accommodate larger equipment and to provide a space for training and community events. The building is also in need of renovations to bring it into compliance with the current building code.

Among the renovations, Straut said, the equipment bays and training room will be expanded by more than 30 feet behind the building. The current heating and electrical systems are near the end of their life, Straut said. Both will be completely replaced.

Several safety and accessibility issues also need to be addressed. Currently the restrooms are not accessible to people with handicaps. Also the asbestos in the building needs to be removed.

Straut said the fire department received a $90,000 grant earlier this year to address other safety issues such as fire and smoke detectors, a sprinkler system, and an emergency generator.

He said residents will probably notice very little change to the firehouse from the street since most of the work will be done inside and in the back of the building. Straut also termed the project as a functional upgrade, as opposed to the huge expansion projects to firehouses in other Capital District communities.

Stevens was mindful of the cost to taxpayers.
"It’s a lot of money," he said. "The average village taxpayer pays about $80 now."

Stevens said the village trustees and fire department are only interested in upgrading the facility to meet new firefighting standards.
"We have no hidden agenda here," he said. "Residents are welcome to view what we have before us."

Stevens said the second public hearing on the firehouse proposal will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 13 at the firehouse.
"We are having two meetings to accommodate summer vacation schedules so everyone can attend," he said.

Residents should plan on a public vote on the project’s financing sometime in the fall. Straut said if the public approves the project, the next steps will be to completely design the building and to start the bidding process. If all goes as planned, the project could be completed in October of 2006.