fire station

To the Editor,
I was disappointed, but not surprised, by the Dexter City Council's vote to re-work the existing fire station rather than build a new one. The Council tipped its hand when it failed to ask for sufficient funds to cover the estimated cost of the new fire station in the past election. If saving taxpayer money was the goal, I feel it was a false economy. New construction is fa more efficient than rebuilding an existing structure; we will get even less for our money when the complications of working on a small site are added to the expense of relocating the Sheriff and fire stations during construction. There is no vacant structure large enough to temporarily house the fire department in Dexter. The fact that the ground floor of the existing fire station is in the 100 year flood plain means that neither State nor Federal funds will be available. The major political advantage of the existing station may be its proximity to Westridge. I believe that the 8140 Main St. site, minimally remodeled, could be a wonderful asset to Dexter if developed to add to the amenities of the Mill Creek and B to B trails.
Peter Glaberman