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Wanted by Erma Fire Co: Diamond Beach Firehouse

Government | Wed, 06/17/2009 - 9:39 am | Read 1056 | Commented 10 | Emailed 4
Tags: Diamond Beach, Erma Volunteer Fire Company, Eustace Mita, Grand Resort, Lower Township

By Jack Fichter

VIILAS — Jeff VanMourik, vice chairman of Fire District 3, Erma, Monday requested Lower Township Council lease a parcel of land in Diamond Beach to the fire company for a fire station.
He said the public has concerns about the lack of a firehouse in Diamond Beach.

Currently, fire trucks must come from the Erma Volunteer Fire Company at the County Airport. Due to weight restrictions on Middle Thorofare Bridge, fire apparatus must travel to Rio Grande and through Wildwood creating a travel time of at least 18 minutes.

VanMourik said there is $280 million available in federal grants for building firehouses throughout the U.S. A requirement for the grant is the fire company having an available property.
The township owns property on Seaview Avenue in Diamond Beach, which is partially occupied by a playground. VanMourik asked Township Council to dedicate the property for a firehouse.
He said it would also provide space for police and rescue personnel.

Township Manager Kathy McPherson asked if the fire company would need the entire parcel, part of which is occupied by the playground. VanMourik said he didn’t know if the playground space would be needed.

“We have no plans at this time for the building,” he said. “We are looking to put a firehouse up with two bays, office space for police, fire and rescue…”

He said parking spaces were also needed, but they were willing to leave the playground if possible.

Township Solicitor Tony Monzo said he believed the township may have written a lease of the property to the fire company a few years ago. VanMourik said the fire company had a deadline of July 1 to submit the grant application.
He said he had heard the developer of the Grand Resort of Diamond Beach, Eustace Mita, had promised to finance a fire station in 2005 when he received approvals from Lower Township Planning Board to build the condominiums.
VanMourik said he heard a figure of $250,000 from Mita.

“If we go with this building, we are going to need to put a fire truck in it,” he said. “So we are hoping they (Grand Resort) will contribute the $250,000 for the fire truck.”

VanMourik said the federal government may be willing to fund 100 percent of the construction cost.

Deputy Mayor Kevin Lare said council would reach out to Mita.

Council passed a motion to approve a lease of the property to the fire company, which will be followed, by a conformation letter and a resolution.


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Thu, 06/25/2009 - 9:39pm - Posted by: powerlevelingz

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Wed, 06/24/2009 - 5:26pm - Posted by: vesrescue

I think you should ask the idiot that made the boundaries with in bridges in between. This is definitely a money issue, Wildwood Crest as in the past asked for all the ratable from diamond beach (that’s about 50 percent of the budget). This would cause Erma budget to increase to cover that portion. By getting the grant and building a firehouse would not affect the tax rate. Erma also is very proud of the volunteer service that they provide for their community, under mutual aid they expect the same service to be provided for their district as if they were responding. I don’t think we could ever get a viable response from Wildwood Crest Fire. Diamond Beach is lower Townships problem and we will solve the problem with the right funds like the firehouse grant program.

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Thu, 06/18/2009 - 4:13pm - Posted by: Ahab

its about time, i think this is a great idea... we need this in our little town, and also having a room for the police would be a great idea, i always see the police officer driving t-4 having to eat in the car everyday. This would be great for everyone. I hope this happens

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Thu, 06/18/2009 - 9:22am - Posted by: cmpt

Perhaps I'm wrong and we need another firehouse in Diamond Beach. My view is we should look into consolidating rather than expanding. Will the grant cover operating expenses or does that fall on the taxpayer? Can someone please clarify why Diamond Beach is unable to contract with Wildwood Crest or Wildwood?

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Wed, 06/17/2009 - 9:59pm - Posted by: usaalltheway

Ok, Lets READ the article again. Funds to be obtained by a federal grant, now where does it say anything about tax payers money? Also this "grant" is for the construction of a "fire station". So why are there going to be offices for police? If they were going to build a police station im sure that they would keep the fire department in mind, right? C mon, lets get real. Get the Federal Funded fire station built for the Fire Department and if The Grand will fund the apparatus then thats an added bonus. Taxpayer, If you dont like the federal funded grant, next time vote for a different president............... PS The Crest does not want anything to do with the Lower Township section of Diamond Beach.

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Wed, 06/17/2009 - 6:00pm - Posted by: BIGJOHNSON

YEAH, contract with the crest!! That's worth about 5 bucks. I would feel safer waiting for upper township to show up! It's nice to see the fire dist. is trying to get this problem solved. I feel if the building is built members will sign up. Next move should be the county asking Obama for a few billion to replace the bridges.

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Wed, 06/17/2009 - 3:15pm - Posted by: cmpt

Your right Ermite it is hard to keep the stations right. I forgot to include West Wildwood. I'm for the taxpayers and frankly I've had enough.

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Wed, 06/17/2009 - 1:03pm - Posted by: Ermite

come on cmpt, get your stations right!! 6 is the district used by pd stations 60,61 and 62 are the fire companies in lower twp. By the way crest or station 4 does not want to respond to diamond beach...

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Wed, 06/17/2009 - 12:14pm - Posted by: cmpt

I agree with tuckahoekid. The following is a list of local fire stations. Do we really need another one?
STATION
COMPANY

1 City of
North Wildwood
FD
2 North Wildwood Municipal Fire Division
2-1 North Wildwood Vol. Fire Co.
2-2 Anglesea Vol. Fire Company
3 City of Wildwood
FD
3 Wildwood Municipal Fire Division
3-1 Holly Beach Vol. Fire Co.
3-2 Wildwood Fire Co. No. 1
4 Wildwood Crest
4 Wildwood Crest Vol. Fire Company
5 Cape Island
51 Cape May City Fire Department
57 West Cape May Vol. Fire Company
58 Cape May Point Vol. Fire Company
59 U.S. Coast Guard Base FD - Cape May
6 Lower
Township
60 Villas Vol. Fire Company
61 Town Bank Vol. Fire Company
62 Erma Vol. Fire Company

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Wed, 06/17/2009 - 11:10am - Posted by: tuckahoekid

Waste of money. It would be cheaper to contract Wildwood Crest to cover that area.
Next thing you know they'll be asking for paid firefighters too.





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