With all members represented at the Owen-Withee-Curtiss Fire & EMS District meeting on July 24, proceeding with a feasibility study was approved. The study will look at the costs and benefits of purchasing the Curtiss Station, building a new fire station, or continuing to rent the Curtiss Station. Engineers and architects from CBS Squared will be doing the study. It was disclosed that they are also the village engineers for Curtiss.

Fire Chief Travis Serocki said he had also contacted Ratsch Engineering, but they don’t do feasibility studies. CBS Squared (CBS) has done a number of fire stations. Representatives from CBS said they would sit down with stakeholders and take all the information. They will give an opinion if asked. They said they are usually pretty close on construction estimates. Fire stations are unique. CBS said they need more and better response times. They will look at ISO ratings and both future and current apparatus needs. They will look at what is needed today as well as what will be needed 20 years from now. They can also help look for grants to help fund a project and would only apply for grants that they felt the fire district could get.

District chair Dan Goessl, Hoard, said they can pay $750,000 for the Curtiss station or continue to rent it. They also need more space in Owen.

CBS talked about various types of buildings and said they will do a cost/benefit analysis. There isn’t much grant money available for existing buildings. The initial cost of the feasibility study plus looking for available grants will cost $10,000. It would cost extra to write a grant. John Hoover, from Green Grove, said he thought it was a waste of $10,000.

The study would be done over the winter, with any potential grant writing in the spring. Art Petke, Longwood, asked how long it would take to get the report. The response was CBS can move as fast as the fire district makes decisions, but projected it would take 4-6 months. Goessl said the bottom line is that the fire department saves lives. He said because it involves money they have to go back to their townships. He feels the district is “backed up against the wall.” Mark Nosko, Maplehurst, had already spoken to his board about this and they felt the district should do the study. Rob Ciszewski, Hixon, said they can’t afford to buy Curtiss and maintain Owen, but they need to pay the extra rent or do something.

Petke said they all know they have to do something, but he wasn’t sure about spending $10,000 to be told something they already know. He felt they should just make up their mind to do it and get some prices from contractors. He made a motion to put out an ad for contractors, which did not get a second. He said he would vote no on the feasibility study. He questioned whether the district had the authority to spend the money, while Hoover said they should go back to their townships before spending the money.

Jason Thornton, Owen said he agreed with Petke but they have to have the steps in place to get a grant. He said they should spend the $10,000 and let them do what they do, then go from there. They can all go back and inform their boards.

Goessl said it was just one option unless something can be worked out with Curtiss. Petke said they have tried everything they can to work with Curtiss and that the district needs to move forward. Everett Lindgren, Withee, said they need to do the study to see if they are eligible for a grant. Nosko pointed out that contractors don’t look for grants. CBS said the district would get points on a grant for being a joint district.

In the end, Lindgren made the motion, seconded by Nosko to hire CBS to do the feasibility study and grant search. The motion passed on a 6-2 vote with Longwood and Green Grove voting no. The money to pay for the study will be split between EMS, which is self-funded, and the fire district. The fire district funds will come from their equipment savings, so none of the members of the fire district will have to come up with extra money.

The board also approved an ordinance to allow their billing company to bill municipalities for fires. All of the municipalities in the district will have to approve a resolution supporting the ordinance. Chief Serocki will send a sample resolution to each of the clerks.

For the first quarter of 2024, they had 27 fire calls and 118 EMS calls. They approved the resignation/retirement of Lonnie Kroeplin effective August 1. He has 24 years of service with the district.