By Matt Youngfrau
MONTICELLO — January 9, 2001 - The Village of Monticello held a special meeting at the Monticello Firehouse on Thursday to discuss their plans for a new firehouse. The director of Fire Services, Carl Houman, and the architect of the project, Steven Tinkelman, did a presentation detailing the project.
The proposed firehouse became necessary for many reasons, the two said. One of the main reasons was because of limited access at the current firehouse. The new firehouse, which will be located on Sturgis Road near the Shortline Bus Terminal, will be easier to get in and out of and will be a larger, more modern facility, they remarked.
The Monticello Fire Department has been in their current location since 1955.
Houman told those assembled that the project has cleared almost all the hurdles in its way. For example, the proposed site is mostly wetlands. The group is working with the DEC and expects them to approve the project within a few weeks.
Once approval has been granted, the project can begin. Workers would first drain the land and then break ground. Officials expect the project will take about five to eight months to complete. If all goes well, the Monticello Fire Company could be in their new facility by the end of the year.
The project is pegged at $2,158,191. However, it will cost the village $400,000, as New York State Assemblyman Jake Gunther and Senator John Bonacic have secured grants to pay much of the rest. The fire department has raised money to offset costs, and the Town of Thompson is kicking in $400,000 to help complete the project.
The site will have a parking lot to accommodate about 100 cars. Unlike the current 7,800-square-foot structure on Route 42 near the village hall and police department, the new firehouse will have its recreation room in the front of the building. It will be between 10,000 and 15,000 square feet.