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Algoma council directs feasibility study for fire/EMS station at Rubbish and Sunset
Summary
After debating safety and traffic concerns about siting a new fire/EMS station next to the school, the Algoma City Council voted to have engineers and architects evaluate the lot at the end of Rubbish and Sunset for future station expansion.
The Algoma City Council voted to pursue a feasibility study of the lot at the corner of Rubbish (Rubis) and Sunset as a future fire and EMS station site, following extensive discussion about safety, traffic and cost trade-offs.
The motion, made by a council member and seconded, directed the city’s engineers and architects to evaluate the site and returned affirmative approval on a roll call. Council members had debated three options: attaching a station to the library site on Fremont Street, a new build on Felt/Sunset, or the Rubbish/Sunset lot.
Fire Chief (identified in the meeting as the chief) told the council he had “some concerns with being in the proximity of the school,” citing frequent drop-off and afternoon pickup activity, concerts and other events that create large pedestrian traffic near Fremont. The chief warned that apparatus movements would likely require access from Fremont for large-turn maneuvers, which could create recurring interactions with children and event traffic.
Other council members urged that feasibility data — footprint, rough costs and infrastructure distance — be gathered before excluding sites. One member noted the difference in utility and road infrastructure distances (roughly 200 feet versus 700 feet) between the west-side option and sites north toward Felt, saying the savings in infrastructure could be significant if sited off Sunset/Robert Street.
Design and cost trade-offs were discussed at length. Some members said tying a new station into an existing structure (for example, an addition to the library) would be more complex and more expensive than a straight steel building; others suggested an L-shaped design that could enter off 4th Street to minimize driveway impacts on Fremont.
The motion asks staff to return with consultant findings to guide a final siting decision. The council approved the motion by roll call; staff and consultants will now proceed with the site evaluation.
