August 27, 2005

State tax chief approves new WRT fire station

       Work on a new White River Township fire station could begin in October.  On Thursday, the state tax control board gave White River Township Fire Protection District permission to borrow up to $3 million to build the station at State Road 135 and Olive Branch Road.  The state tax commissioner has final say on whether departments can go into debt, and a decision is expected in 45 to 60 days, fire protection district spokesman Jim Engmark said.  Fire department officials want to build the station on about an acre of land northwest of Olive Branch Road and State Road 135, a major north/south corridor through the township.  A four-bay station at the intersection would give firefighters easier access to the state road, which is booming with new homes and businesses.  The location is closer to the center of the district, which serves more than 35,000 residents. The district is bordered by County Line Road on the north, State Road 135 on the east, Stones Crossing Road on the south and the Morgan/ Johnson county line on the west.

         About 22 firefighters cover the area during the day, and 17 firefighters are on duty at night.  The new station, which would replace the department's aging and crowded building on Runyon Road, would initially have four firefighters. The fire department could assign as many as 10 firefighters to the station as White River Township continues to grow.  The current fire station will likely become a training center once the new building opens.
 

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