Members of the Danville City Council's Public Services Committee took the first vote Tuesday night toward closing Fire Station 3 for fire suppression activities.
The committee voted 4-1, with Ward 4 Alderwoman Sharon McMahon voting against the closure of the fire station and Ward 3 Alderman R.J. Davis, Ward 5 Alderman Tom Stone, Ward 6 Alderman Steve Nichols and Ward 7 Alderman Steve Foster voting for the closure. Ward 1 Alderwoman Brenda Brown and Ward 2 Alderman Dan Duncheon were absent.
City officials received a letter from representatives of the Quaker Oats plant concerned about putting its hundreds of employees at risk.
Eisenhauer clarified one statement in the letter saying a fire truck from Fire Station 4 can take the Oregon Street overpass to bypass railroad tracks. He also repeated what’s he’s said about the city still being able to provide the same average response times with three stations instead of four.
Under Eisenhauer’s proposal, Station 3 at 1111 N. Griffin St. would remain open for administrative purposes Monday through Friday and also for training; but fire suppression activities from that station would cease prior to May 1, 2017. That’s the start of the city’s new fiscal year. The city has three other fire stations for fire suppression activities.
Eisenhauer said the city is looking at an alternative location for training and to house equipment.
Ward 3 Alderwoman Sherry Pickering said the city will see a drop in service with response times, and she also asked what the city will save.
Eisenhauer said the city will save about $600,000 in not having to replace equipment for that fire station and the closure puts the city in a better position to fight minimum manning from 13 to 10 in arbitration. A minimum manning ruling in the city’s favor would result in around $700,000 to $900,000 annually in savings, he added.