Mayor begins to eye new fire station

by Dan Holland

Feb. 19 city council meeting

Broadview Heights Mayor Sam Alai announced efforts to begin looking into building a new fire department headquarters in the city.

Voters in May 2022, rejected Issue 4, a charter amendment that would have raised raise the fire and emergency medical services levy in Broadview Heights from 4.2 mils to a rate not to exceed 5.8 mils.

In July 2022, Alai announced he would begin looking into additional funding options, grants and apply cost-saving measures within the city budget to apply toward a new station. Fire Station No. 1, located at 3591 E. Wallings Rd., which serves as the fire department headquarters, opened in 1963.

“Almost two years ago, charter millage for a new fire station was turned down by the voters in our city,” Alai said during the meeting. “Right after, I stated that we respected the will of the people and would not go back on the ballot, and that I would look for other ways to fund a much-needed fire station through cost saving grants and other means if available.”

“I believe we now have a path forward, and this administration will start talks and provide information to this council and community stakeholders as we move toward our goal of providing a safe working environment for our firefighters and better services for our residents,” Alai added.

No specific details of the plan were presented. Updates are expected to follow at subsequent meetings.

In other action, council approved:

• A resolution of appreciation to Timothy Scarborough for serving as a police officer in the city for 33 years.
• A resolution of appreciation to Phillip Adams for serving as a police officer in the city for 33 years. A separate resolution of appreciation was presented to canine Hercules for serving as a K-9 police officer in the city for six years. Adams began the city’s K-9 program in 1993.
• An agreement to pay an invoice from the Southwest Council of Governments for membership dues in the amount of $27,500.
• A one-year renewal agreement with BPI Information Systems for multi-factor authentication and cyber security training in the city at a cost of $695 per month.
• An agreement with Montrose Ford for a police vehicle at a cost of $44,910. A previous agreement with Ken Ganley Ford for a police vehicle purchase was repealed.
• An agreement with Atwell’s Police and Fire Equipment for guns, sights and holsters for the city’s police department at a cost of $16,497. ∞