By Staff
Q&A SESSION – Mayor John Robert Smith shows Kiwanis members plans for the Cooper Development project during the club's Wednesday meeting. Smith also answered questions about Fire Station No. 2, annexation and downtown development. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By William F. West / community editor
Aug. 29, 2002
Mayor John Robert Smith told a civic group that it is up to the Meridian City Council to take action on problems at Fire Station No. 2.
The station, which dates back to the early 1900s, is at 902 Grand Ave.
Smith said the question is whether to build a new fire station or spend $21,000 to $27,000 on repairs to the roof and air conditioning/heating unit.
The issue surfaced last week when Councilman Barbara Henson asked Fire Chief Bunky Partridge why his proposed budget for next year did not include money for repairs at No. 2.
Partridge says conditions at the station are livable. Firefighters say the roof leaks every time it rains and that other problems include moldy ceilings, peeling paint and possible asbestos.
Partridge told the council last week that they must decide whether to spend money to fix the problems even though his long-range plans call for replacing it.
During the Kiwanis meeting, the mayor was asked whether he has a timeline for the council to move on building a new Station No. 2.
Smith said the present No. 2 is in a bad location; the new one should be closer to highways.
PERRY'S TAKE
Mary Perry, president of the Meridian City Council, said Wednesday that she is allergic to mold herself and thinks the city should do "whatever it takes" to remove the mold from Fire Station No. 2.
Perry said, however, that she is not in favor of spending a lot of money on the present building.