CALAIS Special vote called for fire station
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Members of East Montpelier's fire and rescue services look over plans at the proposed site of their new emergency services station in what is currently an empty field east of the intersection of Route 2 and Route 14 in East Montpelier. STEFAN HARD/TIMES ARGUS |
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By SUSAN ALLEN TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: September 10, 2009
CALAIS – Voters in Calais and East Montpelier are being asked to go to their town offices on Sept. 29 for a special election called to approve – or disapprove – a plan to build the new fire and ambulance station just off Route 2 in the village of East Montpelier.
The building would be built on 1.52 acres that are part of the 15-acre Hasland property, located just after a right-hand turn toward Plainfield on Route 2 at the blinking light outside the Dudley Store, according to Fire Chief John Audy.
The chief said Wednesday that information would be provided at Saturday's Rally Days at the East Montpelier Elementary School, and mailers would go out to voters in the near future, as well. A public hearing will also be scheduled before the Sept. 29 vote to allow people to ask questions about the proposal, Audy said; the date for that hearing has not been set, he said.
Voters in the two communities overwhelmingly approved a $2.1 million bond on Town Meeting Day to pay for the new station, which was initially going to be built on Route 14, across from the Washington Electric Cooperative building.
Permitting work was being conducted at that site, with construction planned to begin this summer and completion date set for late 2009 or early 2010.
The WEC site was eventually determined to be unacceptable for a variety of reasons, including the potential of contaminants on the property and up to 5 feet of fill that would be needed. Supporters instead revisited a proposal to build on the Hasland property, which was one of the initial parcels under consideration for the new emergency services station.
"It's just for the location change, it's not asking for more money," Audy said of the Sept. 29 special election. "It will be a similar building to what was on the other site. It's the same floor plan."
He said people felt strongly that the building should be located in the village of East Montpelier, which narrowed the options for a new site. The Hasland property, Audy noted, is part of the village.
"That's why we were only looking at certain sites," he said. "The Hasland site was identified five years ago and was one of the frontrunners."
He said the Hasland property was ruled out initially because of concerns about the visibility of the station; supporters of the project wanted the building to be visible at the village center to the public.
"We just don't have those options," he said. "This is the closest option."
He said at this point the Hasland property has been divided into two parcels – including the 1.5 2 acre piece for the fire and ambulance station. It's unclear what will happen to the remainder of the land, he said, although the additional acreage is not part of the fire station plan or purchase.
Supporters of the new emergency services building hope ground can be broken on a new station by November.
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