WBIW.com News - local

Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana

Shawswick Volunteer Fire Department Groundbreaking Ceremony Wednesday

Last updated on Wednesday, December 30, 2015

(BEDFORD) - Shawswick Volunteer Fire Department will break ground Wednesday to construct new fire station.

The floor plans are drawn up, the money is in the bank and construction will begin within the next few weeks, weather permitting.

According to Shawswick Township trustee Millard Jones, the new station will replace the main fire station at 1325 Sunny Acres Drive, which was built in 1974 and will cost $420,000.

Shawswick board members, Jennie Edwards, Jack Cummings and Amy Kleber agreed to pay for the new building. All three, Fire Chief Bob Brown and and new board member Janie Craig Chenault will attend the groundbreaking. Chenault, will replace Cummings on the board at the end of the year.

"We have $100,000 in our CUM Fund the fire department invested $20,000 and we borrowed $300,000 from the bank at 2.57 percent interest and will have the building paid off in six years," Jones added. "The monthly payments will be paid from the CUM Fund."

Neidigh Construction Inc. in Bloomington will begin construction as soon as building permits are received.Owner Larry Neidigh will also attend the groundbreaking ceremony.

"That may take a week or two due to the holidays," Jones added. "But once we receive them, construction will begin. The station should be completed by April 15, weather permitting."

Fire Chief Bob Brown says a new fire station is needed because the old building is falling apart and it is not feasible to repair it.

"The roof leaks and is falling apart and there is mold in the building," Brown added. "The old station will be torn down once the new station is completed."

The new building will have five bays for trucks, a meeting room, kitchen, a few offices, rest rooms and storage areas.

Jones says the new building is "long overdue."

"The fire barn has outlived its use," Jones says. "The new department is a plus for the community and will not raise taxes. We need the public to understand that. The payments will be covered with no increases in taxes."

The volunteer fire department has tanker trucks which are being stored outside. Now everything will be kept under roof, Jones added.

Jones says the new station will benefit the township with lower fire ratings in the future.

"With better ratings homeowners should see lower insurance rates," Jones added.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Click here to go back to previous page