LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – The Lima Fire Department is one step closer to modernizing its current fire stations or potentially constructing new ones at different sites.
At Monday night’s meeting, Lima City Council gave the green light for the Fire Department to work with KZF Design of Cincinnati on a comprehensive fire station needs assessment and conceptual design study. This follows a feasibility study by the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association on fire station coverage in Lima, which revealed the need for a new station on the city’s west side, a training facility and better dispersion of medic units.
As a result of that study, KZF will examine Central, Station 2 and Station 3 on several indicators for potential renovation or replacement while assessing new sites, something Lima’s fire chief says is greatly needed.
“Moving forward, we were going to run over 6,700 calls this year. 70% of those are EMS calls. All of our EMS calls are responded from our central station. We don't have room in our current stations to house a medic unit. This will allow us to spread those medic units out throughout the city to better serve the residents,” says Chief Jack McDermitt, Lima Fire Department.
In other business, council approved legislation for the city to enter into a Community Reinvestment Area tax exemption with Noxus Ohio for a new Clark gas station at 895 S. Cable Road, which formerly housed Ahl for Less. Noxus Ohio requested a tax abatement of 75% for up to 15 years.
