SOMERS – For the first time in its history, the Somers/Lakeside Fire Department is asking voters to approve a bond levy request to update their facility.
Money from the $4 million dollar bond would be used for much-needed updates on their fire hall which is over 60 years old and has never been replaced.
The department’s Samuel Spence says that in addition to a leaking roof that is in need of repair, the building needs updating to match modern firetruck’s size.
The current fire truck bays can barely hold the department’s three engines.
“The trucks were a different size back then and a lot of our trucks have a really tight fit into the hall, both for width and also depth,” Spence told MTN News.
“We have two trucks we actually had to modify the building and actually had to bump out the back wall of the building to get them to fit,” he added.
Trustees recently unanimously voted to move the bond forward in July and a new fire hall site at 784 Somers Road has already been selected.
If the bond request is approved, the new firehouse would make room for six trucks and would also have a community space, and a trustee room.
The bond needs the approval of 40% of voters in order for the request to be approved. Spence says that taxpayers with a home valued at $100,000 would see an annual fire tax of $23.96.
