McCORDSVILLE — Vernon Township officials are looking at land for a second 24/7 fire station.
The township fire territory board recently submitted a letter of intent to purchase about two acres near the southwest corner of Mt. Comfort Road and County Road 900N from Greenfield-based Pride Investment Partners. It is near where the firm plans to build a Leo’s Market & Eatery similar to the one it built at Main Street and Meridian Road in Greenfield.
The Vernon Township Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to McCordsville, Fortville and the unincorporated parts of the township. It provides 24/7 on-station response from its station in Fortville. McCordsville has a fire station, but isn’t able to be manned 24/7.
Florence May, Vernon Township trustee, said a 24/7 station in McCordsville will be beneficial because the town makes up the largest portion of the township’s population.
“We know the sustained growth will continue,” she added.
Fortville’s station is south of the railroad tracks that run through the township. McCordsville’s would be north of them, easing concerns about long or stopped trains delaying response times during emergencies.
“While we do have mutual aid agreements with our surrounding stations, the reality is those are very, very busy stations that surround us,” May said.
The site is just east of Traditions at Brookside, a long-term care facility that draws many of the fire department’s emergency medical calls.
May said there’s a number of processes government agencies have to go through when indicating an intent to purchase land, including determining a fair cost.
She said next steps will entail a financial feasibility study on building a new station and discussions on how to fund it, which could include extending the bond on the Fortville fire station, to avoid a tax increase.
“Right now the focus is to get the land purchased this year, and then once the feasibility study is done, then we will start to lay out a timeline for building the station,” May said.
Greg Brewer, a McCordsville Town Council member who serves on the Vernon Township Fire Territory Board, agreed a station in town that’s north of the railroad tracks is needed.
“As the town is growing, it is a necessity,” he said.
He and May said they’re grateful for Pride Investment Partners’ willingness to work with the township.
“I think it’s a good combination of the private and public sectors working together to solve a community’s need,” Brewer said.
