Volunteer fire departments ask for Center Township support
CENTER TWP — Supervisors tabled two requests for financial support from two volunteer fire departments at a Wednesday meeting at the Unionville Fire Hall.
The Unionville Volunteer Fire Company is in the early stages of putting an addition onto the fire hall, and asked the supervisors for $150,000 to help fund its construction.
The Oneida Valley Volunteer Fire Department asked for a contribution from the township to help fund the purchase of a new fire engine, which is estimated to cost around $653,000.
Supervisor Chairman Bob Sloan said the board wants more information on both requests.
"I don’t want to just push the easy button and say OK," Sloan said.
Nathan Wulff, deputy chief of the Unionville company, said the addition to the fire hall would add living quarters and some other amenities for the potential for the department to house live-in staff.
"We're trying to prepare for the future needs of the fire company and the community," he said. "The need for paid staffing could arise in the future... by having the infrastructure in place ahead of that need, that makes it easier to transition to that if or when the time comes."
Supervisor Alan Smallwood, who is a volunteer for the Oneida Valley department, said it also received money from the Oakland Township supervisors. Center Township's contribution would cut down on the cost accrued by the department, he said.
"We put $475,000 on it," Smallwood said. “We’re just letting the township supervisors know we are buying a new engine and asking if you would be willing or not willing to support us in that.”
Smallwood and Wulff said they could each provide the requested information to the supervisors at next month's meeting.
