Letter to the Editor: We Need To Look at Alternatives for the Rescue Squad

Dear Editor, 

In my view the Valley Road School site is not the best site for the Rescue Squad.  Witherspoon Street is an already congested street on a hill where visibility is poor.  The site is also very close to Community Park School. And of course, Valley Road School can’t be relocated.    

We need to find a way - and many alternatives do exist - to satisfy the needs of the Rescue Squad.  The existing Squad facility, now located on N. Harrison Street, was surely located there because it was well-situated to serve the community. Additionally, the Squad has purchased the house behind it and seems to have gotten some cooperation on parking from the Shopping Center. Perhaps a deal could be made with the Shopping Center for the Squad to purchase a small amount of additional land if it is needed.

My understanding is that the Squad currently has 4,500 S.F. of space. They are asking for 20,000 S.F., which is 4 ½ times more than what they have now.  When so many taxpayers are strapped, what is the justification for such a large increase in space?  

Using a conservative construction cost estimate of $250/S.F., a 20,000 S.F. building would cost $5.0 million plus demolition costs of as much as $500,000.  Assuming a 20-year bond with a low current interest rate, the cost of repaying the bond plus the interest would be about $430,000/yr. for the Rescue Squad on top of its current budget, an enormous additional burden by any standard.  

On top of this is the cost of fixtures and furnishings and the additional annual operating and maintenance costs for more than quadruple their existing space, another large burden.  If the Rescue Squad can’t pay the bonds year after year, not only are the taxpayers on the hook for $430,000/yr., but the town also has to worry about whether the Squad can successfully carry the huge increase in its regular operating costs.  

We need to take a hard look at what the Squad absolutely needs and how to most cost-effectively meet the Squad’s needs.  Constructing a large, new building on Witherspoon Street is not the answer.

Dan Thompson

Princeton Township