OH Dept to Get 4 New Stations after Levy Passes

The city of Middletown is getting four new fire stations after Butler and Warren county voters overwhelmingly passed a 1-mill property tax levy Tuesday night.

In Butler County, 1,531 residents, or 65%, voted for the levy, while 839, or 35%, voted against the 1-mill property tax levy that will generate $16.8 million and be used to build four fire stations.

In Warren County, 1,080 voters, or 60%, voted for the levy, while 716, or 40%, voted against.

The levy will replace the previously-enacted 1-mill levy established to fund debt service for the Central Connections Senior Center.

The $16.8 million is the cost of designing, furnishing and constructing the four facilities that will replace the "inadequate and obsolete" existing stations, according to the city.

If Middletown residents had rejected the levy, officials had said the city would place an income tax increase that would require a 1/8th of 1% increase for at least 15 years; build one fire station every five or six years that would about double the final cumulative tally of costs; or wouldn't replace the fire stations.

Frank Baughman, president of the Middletown Firefighters Association, said the aging fire stations do not meet the codes for fire alarm systems, suppression systems and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, among others.

The stations also lack accommodations for female firefighters creating "an obstacle in being a diverse and inclusive department," he said.

The fire department hired its only female firefighter, Celine Schank, in February.

Also Baughman said, extensive research regarding cancer in firefighters has shown station design plays "a major role" in limiting exposure to harmful carcinogens. Todays' fire stations are designed to keep those carcinogens out of the living area. Middletown's stations offer none of these features, according to Baughman.

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PROPOSED FOUR FIRE STATIONS — New fire headquarters location replacing the 1.38-acre site on Roosevelt Boulevard: A 3.6-acre site at Yankee Road and Cherry Street owned by the city as acquired from the Middletown City Schools and former site of Garfield school. Size: 24,300 square feet. Cost: $7,168,500. — Station No. 81 location replacing 0.28-acre site on Clinton Street: A 2.85-acre site at Henry Avenue and Charles Street owned by the city as acquired from the Middletown City Schools and former site of the Jefferson school. Size: 10,200 square feet. Cost: $3,009,000 — Station No. 85 location replacing 0.86-acre site at Central Avenue and Breiel Boulevard: A 2-acre parcel at Sophie Avenue and Stolz Drive encompassing the undeveloped, southern portion of Dowling Park owned by the city. Size: 10,200 square feet. Cost: $3,009,000. — No. 82 location replacing 0.88-acre site on Dixie Highway: A 2.7-acre site at Ohio 122 and Atrium Boulevard acquired from Premier Health/Atrium Medical Center. Size: 11,800 square feet. Cost: $3,481,000.

SOURCE: City of Middletown

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