Sep. 12--AKRON, Ohio -- Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and other city leaders on Thursday cut the ribbons to officially open two new fire stations.
Members of the public gathered to tour Fire Station 2, on East Market Street near East Exchange and South Arlington streets in Middlebury, and Fire Station 4, on West Thornton Street near South Main Street in downtown.
The stations are the first two to be rebuilt using funds from Issue 4, the ballot initiative passed in 2017 to increase Akron's income tax from 2.25% to 2.5% for police, fire and roads.
"You see the result in just beautiful public infrastructure, public investment in the neighborhood," Horrigan said at Station 2. Station 2 cost about $5.6 million and Station 4 cost about $9 million, according to a city spokeswoman.
The projects were financed with bonds that will be repaid with Issue 4 dollars each year. About $650,000 from the sale of the old Station 4 went toward the new construction.
Fire Chief Clarence Tucker, who on Thursday celebrated 31 years of working for the city, said the fire stations were designed to keep firefighters safe and to improve communication between firefighters and administrators, who will work in Station 4.
"It's been a long time since our fire administration was in a firehouse -- about 25 years," Tucker said in Station 4. "Any time you have a disconnect like that, it really strains the relationship between our staff. So, it's with great pleasure that I can stand in here now with the administration in a fire station, with firefighters just right down the hall."
Station 4, the city's busiest, is also home to the fire department's haz-mat and bariatric units. Station 2 is the latest improvement to Akron's Middlebury neighborhood. Horrigan raised his voice Thursday to be heard over the sound of construction of the Middlebury Commons across the street.
"We have invested, literally having transformed a neighborhood, and invested back into public infrastructure, and the men and women who give every single day into our safety," Horrigan said. "This is a joyful occasion, not only for the department, but for the city."
Over the past year, Station 2 was constructed by G. Stephens, Inc. and Station 4 was constructed by Thomarios. Both companies provided light refreshments for people who attended the open houses.
Attendees could receive guided tours of the stations, sign up for free smoke detectors and participate in hands-only CPR demonstrations.
The city is working on a third new fire station in Wallhaven. ___ (c)2019 Advance Ohio Media, Cleveland Visit Advance Ohio Media, Cleveland at www.cleveland.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
