Auburn residents who watched an emergency service move out of a neighborhood on the southeastern side of town will soon see another one move right back in.
The former fire station located at 5 Frederick St. will now be used by the city's ambulance provider, TLC Emergency Medical Services. The city and the company are currently working out a lease and should have an agreement this week, according to Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh.
Auburn City Council unanimously approved the arrangement Thursday during a business meeting.
Palesh said TLC representatives contacted the city about using the station after it was shut down in April. The deal made sense, he said.
“The station is vacant right now, and they can provide a service for the community,” Palesh said.
When Palesh announced that the city was closing its easternmost fire station, he said the building was likely to be sold. He estimated that the property could bring up to $160,000.
But Palesh said Friday that selling the station isn't so easy. While a number of parties have expressed interest in the building, the city would have to
re-zone the property if a buyer wished to use it for commercial purposes, he said.
“It is already zoned correctly for public use,” Palesh said. “It's a good partnership.”
TLC has agreed to do some work inside the station as part of the agreement. If the location works out well for the company, it could eventually purchase the property, Palesh said.
In the end, the city still achieves its goal of saving money, Palesh said. City officials estimated when the station was closed that the move would save $30,000 per year.
“This is a win-win for the city,” Palesh said.
Lon Fricano, operations director from TLC, said earlier this week that the new station is part of a plan to expand TLC's services in Auburn. The EMS company will still base its operations at 165 North St. and use the Frederick Street location to house one emergency vehicle, Fricano said.
TLC expects to be operating with up to nine vehicles in the near future, he said.
The city recently extended its contract with the company after the state gave it control over its own ambulance service. TLC has provided ambulance services in Auburn since 2006, when the city dropped Rural Metro as its provider.
Palesh said TLC, the city of Auburn and the Auburn Fire Department have a “close relationship,” and the company will make a good tenant.
If the agreement does not work out and TLC eventually relocates, the city will pursue its original plan, Palesh said.
“It is still for sale if we don't have a tenant,” Palesh said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
Auburn City Council unanimously approved the arrangement Thursday during a business meeting.
Palesh said TLC representatives contacted the city about using the station after it was shut down in April. The deal made sense, he said.
“The station is vacant right now, and they can provide a service for the community,” Palesh said.
When Palesh announced that the city was closing its easternmost fire station, he said the building was likely to be sold. He estimated that the property could bring up to $160,000.
But Palesh said Friday that selling the station isn't so easy. While a number of parties have expressed interest in the building, the city would have to
re-zone the property if a buyer wished to use it for commercial purposes, he said.
“It is already zoned correctly for public use,” Palesh said. “It's a good partnership.”
TLC has agreed to do some work inside the station as part of the agreement. If the location works out well for the company, it could eventually purchase the property, Palesh said.
In the end, the city still achieves its goal of saving money, Palesh said. City officials estimated when the station was closed that the move would save $30,000 per year.
“This is a win-win for the city,” Palesh said.
Lon Fricano, operations director from TLC, said earlier this week that the new station is part of a plan to expand TLC's services in Auburn. The EMS company will still base its operations at 165 North St. and use the Frederick Street location to house one emergency vehicle, Fricano said.
TLC expects to be operating with up to nine vehicles in the near future, he said.
The city recently extended its contract with the company after the state gave it control over its own ambulance service. TLC has provided ambulance services in Auburn since 2006, when the city dropped Rural Metro as its provider.
Palesh said TLC, the city of Auburn and the Auburn Fire Department have a “close relationship,” and the company will make a good tenant.
If the agreement does not work out and TLC eventually relocates, the city will pursue its original plan, Palesh said.
“It is still for sale if we don't have a tenant,” Palesh said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
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islandhottie7 wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:53 AM:
Closing the station initially seemed like nothing more than a kneejerk reaction. Here's hoping that the city doesn't make too many more of these "progressive" moves in the future. "
AJ wrote on Jul 28, 2008 6:05 PM: