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November 8, 2010

Plan to close fire station causes concern

By Dan Nienaber The Free Press

MANKATO — A neighborhood group will be voicing its concerns today (Nov. 9) about a city plan to close an aging fire station on Madison Avenue and build at a new downtown location.

Response time for fires is the biggest complaint people living north of the existing station have, said Jason Smith, co-president of the Tourtellotte Park Neighborhood Association.

 The association is hosting a meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Franklin Elementary School, but residents in other areas of the city also have concerns and are invited to attend, he said.

“The current response time for our neighborhood is 2 to 3 minutes,” Smith said. “It’s been that way since the station was built about 40 years ago. A lot of people moved to this area because of the station and that response time.”

It’s the age of the station that has the city looking at options for remodeling or replacing it, said City Manager Pat Hentges. No final decision has been made, but he is leaning toward building a new main fire station next to the downtown Law Enforcement Center. Property next to that building already has been acquired by the city.

Long-term plans include building a third fire station in the area of Menards in northeast Mankato. The main station is the only fire hall that will be manned full time. The new station and another station that already exists on Pohl Road will be staffed by volunteer firefighters.

Moving the main station downtown will lengthen the fire response times for people living in an area roughly bordered by Madison Avenue to the south, Highway 14 to the north, Riverfront Drive to the west and Victory Drive to the east. It will improve the response time for people living in west Mankato and the city’s growing south side because firefighters will have quicker access to Stoltzman Road, Hentges said.

“Of the sites available and the cost of expanding or building, downtown seems to be the best location,” Hentges said. “And it serves a better part of the city.

“We’re at a point now where we’re going to make a decision, and we owe it to the neighborhood to talk to them.”

The meeting tonight will include a presentation by Fire Department commanders. There also will be an opportunity for people to ask questions and voice concerns.

Smith said he wants the city to consider building a new station to serve the west side and south side of the city while maintaining the existing Fire Station 1.

“A fire doubles in size every 30 seconds,” Smith said. “They’re taking fire response time from one neighborhood and moving it to another neighborhood.”

George Mocol, owner of Mocol’s Super Market, said he is planning to attend the meeting. His store is just up the street from the main fire station. Mocol often watches firefighters after they return from a call and has seen the need for major remodeling or a new station.

They often have to direct traffic while they try to squeeze their large trucks through the building’s garage doors. The newer trucks are much larger than the trucks used when the fire station was built.

“They’re trying to get 2010 equipment into a 1960s building,” Mocol said. “I think the main concern is with coverage and response times. Most of the people I’ve talked to are just trying to keep an open mind.

Both Mocol and Smith said they’re expecting a good turnout for the meeting.

“I’m glad the city is taking the time to do this,” Mocol said. “They’re looking for feedback, and I think they’ll get it.”

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