July 4, 1990

Home found for new fire station

       The White River Township Volunteer Fire Department finally found a home for a north township fire station.  Howard Bennis, fire chief, said a land purchase was finalized June 25.  About one acre of land at Fairview Road and Meridian Parke Lane was purchased from Marlin Development Corp. for $200,000.  The fire department has been trying for several years to locate a new fire station in the more populous northern section of the township.

         Plans to build a fire station at 3780 W. Fairview (the Schreckengast farm) fell through when the plan was turned down by the Johnson County Board of Zoning Appeals last year after residents in the area voiced opposition.  Ironically, the Schreckengast farm house (vacant at the time) was destroyed by fire on June 21.  Bennis said the fire department is investigating the blaze as being of “suspicious origin.”  The fire department was planning to pay $235,000 for the 35 acre Schreckengast site.

         Bennis said the cost of building a new fire station is estimated at between $300,000 to $350,000.  “We have an architect and a plan we are ready to submit for approval,” he said.  “I’d like to see us break ground in August.  We’re looking at a 90 to 120 day construction period,” Bennis said.  The fire department’s long range goal is to build three new fire stations and “retire” its one existing fire station at 450 W. Smith Valley Road. 

         This station is “pretty old, it’s literally falling apart.  Pieces of the ceiling are coming down on our heads,” Bennis said.  The two other sites planned for fire stations are SR 37 and Smith Valley Road, the department already owns a 4.5 acre parcel there; and SR 135 and Olive Branch Road.  The fire department is still searching for a location in this vicinity.

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