N. Highlands FD to hold firehouse renovation vote

[Guest]

North Highlands FD to hold firehouse renovation vote

By Barbara Livingston Nackman

The Journal News

(Original Publication: December 4, 2006)

PHILIPSTOWN - The North Highlands Volunteer Fire Department is asking fire district voters tomorrow to approve a $5.7 million bond to renovate and expand its firehouse in the north end of town.

Voting is from 6 to 10 p.m. at the firehouse, 504 Fishkill Road.

If approved, the money would refurbish the existing firehouse, build two additional bays and increase the station's size from 10,119 to 19,123 square feet.

The increase to an average household for fire protection taxes would be approximately $146 per year for the first 13 years and then drop to $93 for 12 years, officials said.

The fire district spans 35 square miles from East Mountain Road to south of Route 301 and from Oscawana Lake to the edge of Nelsonville. It is one of four departments serving portions of Philipstown.

[Guest]

Very big vote indeed. There are a number of signs up at local stores and the such. Not really sure what the public is feeling as of yet. I do know, from reading the Putnam County News and Recorder @ work a number of Philipstown residents have been calling for a combination of the 4 FDs into 1 Philipstown FD in an effort to cut costs and stem rising taxes. I know it has been discussed, but what good, if any, it would do is probably negligible. Either way the current NHFD building is an eyesore and more or less just damn ineffective. In fact it reminds me a lot of the steel sarcophagus thats over the Chernobyl plant in the Ukraine. Guess well find out tomorrow :X

[Remember585 815]

Good luck NHFD - you guys deserve a new / upgraded building!

[DOC22 1]

Good luck NHFD - you guys deserve a new / upgraded building!

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Absolutely true! I couldn't put it any better!

[EJS1810 7]

NHFD voters turned down the proposal. NHFD Commissioners will meet to decide waht to do next.

[x635 4,066]

For those who aren't familiar with what it looks like, here's a photo I got of it today.

[attachmentid=1728]

[ajsbear 11]

As you can see from the picture it's an older metal building. As metal buildings age and rust they need more and more work and this ones no different. There's something going on in Philipstown. First they voted down raising Garrison's LOSAP going from $10 to $25. Now the North Highlands district turned down the new house. There are a few towns people who are very outspoken, know nothing about fire department management but expect more service and spend less.