Police Chief Craig Davis and Fire Chief Keith Robie invite residents to attend a second open house at the police and fire stations next week to tour the aging buildings and learn more about the need for a new public safety complex.
WHEN:
Saturday, Sept. 22 from 1-4 p.m.
WHERE:
- Ashland Police Station, 137 Main St.
- Ashland Fire Station, 151 Main St.
Note: Both stations are next to each other and share the same parking lot.
WHAT:
The Town of Ashland has been engaged in a long-term process to develop a new public safety complex and is seeking funding to move forward with the project.
According to a feasibility study conducted by MMA Consulting Group, Inc. in 2008, both the Ashland Police Station and Ashland Fire Station were declared inadequate and obsolete. In an effort to point out some of the deficiencies found during the feasibility study, Chief Davis and Chief Robie will be providing tours of the two stations to residents during the open house.
The 2008 study found that both buildings are currently overcrowded with not enough space for current staffing, vehicles and equipment and no room for expansion in either facility.
Additionally, the poor design and layout of each building creates safety hazards for staff, and the facilities for female employees are in a trailer attached to the police station. The existing stations are also both located next to railroad tracks, making them vulnerable to contamination and shut down in the event of a derailment, and passing trains can delay emergency response.
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