Clermont Assistant Fire Chief Kathy Johnston said, "There was concern raised if we didn't have a station there would be an issue, but since we got the station open at about the same time we annexed that's not an issue."

Proactive, because South Lake County is only expected to continue a growth boom, and like in many rural areas across the county, infrastructure and services do not exist to support the growth.

In this area, if this new $1.2 million station wasn't up and running, there would be a potentially 8 to 9 minute response time to folks who need help, Johnston added.

Lake County officials say the same:  it's a win-win-win, for the county, the city, and the taxpayer. 

 A joint station means a shared cost..600 thousand from the city and the county.   Officials tell us that shared cost means no fire fees, increased impact fees, or quests for tax increases from residents.

Johnston said, "If you have two stations you're supporting with a tax base, and now you are adding another one, that tax base may not be sufficient to support that third station."

The fire station is staffed with three city firefighters and three county firefighters on three different daily shifts.
There are two fire trucks -- one from both the city and county.   It is a partnership that is serving as a model as the county only grows larger.

The AFD is getting an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“The department heads of the city of Alton are continuously looking for alternate sources of funding for projects in the city,” said Mayor Brant Walker. “With fiduciary responsibility we strive to improve our community in the most effective and efficient ways possible.”

The new SCBA, commonly referred to as air packs, will replace units that AFD purchased around 2001. The apparatus no longer meet current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

Rapid intervention equipment is for use if a firefighter is in distress at a scene.

Total cost of the purchases is $119,000. Besides the $108,182 coming from the grant, the city of Alton is responsible for a $10,818 “match.”

 It will also bump Ypsilanti's total solar watt production to 1,078,825 watts, or 54.5 watts per capita, which is good for the 16th most in the nation, according to Environment America.

The 176-panel array will cost around $59,000 and be installed on top of the station at 525 W. Michigan Ave. That will be covered by a $25,000 anonymous donation and approximately $34,000 from the city's energy efficiency and conservation fund. Officials are expecting savings of at least $6,424 annually, and the project will likely be paid off within five years.

"This is a tremendous project and a great savings to taxpayers. Nowhere else do we get that kind of rate of return on investment," said Council Member Dan Vogt. At its Sept. 20 meeting, council unanimously approved allotting funds.

The city is partnering with Solar Ypsi's Dave Strenski to put the project together. His group promotes solar energy and offers real time reporting on Ypsilanti's solar production.