The 12-minute response time to a fire Monday at a mobile home on Monroe's far west side has revived discussions about the need for a second fire station in the city. It should.
During the past couple of years, Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch has made an effective case for the benefits of a second facility. Response times, traffic patterns and retail development on the west side of the city have increased the need for a second fire station.
Unfortunately, the city government's financial situation has prevented any momentum toward completing a second facility, even though 2.3 acres of land in the Honey Creek Business and Industrial Park already are designated for a fire station.
During last year's budget process, Rausch put the project on hold, saying he could not, "in good conscience ask the community to build when the budget is the way it is." We agreed with Rausch's decision at the time, but said the delay in building a second fire station must only be temporary. Since then, a significant fire at Badger State Ethanol and Monday's fire that destroyed the mobile home have served as reminders of the difficulties firefighters have in getting to west-side fires in a timely manner. (It is worth noting that Rausch, in a comment on the Times' Web site, said the home still would have been damaged beyond repair Monday had the department responded from a west-side station. But he said it's possible more personal items could have been saved.)
With the city's budgeting season quickly approaching, now would be an opportune time for aldermen to discuss whether they can afford to make a second fire station a fiscal priority. Rausch is seeking grants for the project, but is realistic in not counting on receiving them due to the large number of departments that have applied. A second station wouldn't be inexpensive, but at a projected cost last year of $700,000, it's not unreasonable to believe funds can be found if it's made a priority - even in tough financial times. It would be the kind of task that a good city administrator with municipal budgeting expertise could take on. But ... the council's already decided the next administrator should be an attorney.
During the past couple of years, Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch has made an effective case for the benefits of a second facility. Response times, traffic patterns and retail development on the west side of the city have increased the need for a second fire station.
Unfortunately, the city government's financial situation has prevented any momentum toward completing a second facility, even though 2.3 acres of land in the Honey Creek Business and Industrial Park already are designated for a fire station.
During last year's budget process, Rausch put the project on hold, saying he could not, "in good conscience ask the community to build when the budget is the way it is." We agreed with Rausch's decision at the time, but said the delay in building a second fire station must only be temporary. Since then, a significant fire at Badger State Ethanol and Monday's fire that destroyed the mobile home have served as reminders of the difficulties firefighters have in getting to west-side fires in a timely manner. (It is worth noting that Rausch, in a comment on the Times' Web site, said the home still would have been damaged beyond repair Monday had the department responded from a west-side station. But he said it's possible more personal items could have been saved.)
With the city's budgeting season quickly approaching, now would be an opportune time for aldermen to discuss whether they can afford to make a second fire station a fiscal priority. Rausch is seeking grants for the project, but is realistic in not counting on receiving them due to the large number of departments that have applied. A second station wouldn't be inexpensive, but at a projected cost last year of $700,000, it's not unreasonable to believe funds can be found if it's made a priority - even in tough financial times. It would be the kind of task that a good city administrator with municipal budgeting expertise could take on. But ... the council's already decided the next administrator should be an attorney.
