by Bea Peterson
Hoosick firefighters saw their dreams of a spacious new fire house go up in smoke last night when District voters reversed themselves and voted no on a proposal to secure bonds for the purchase of the former Haynes Ford property on Route 7.
Hoosick District Fire Commissioners were approached months ago about considering the 6.5 acre property to use as a fire house. On April 24 the Commissioners met and opened a bid of $650,000 for the building. At that time they answered questions from those attending the meeting regarding the purchase. On July 8 a Public Hearing on the proposed purchase was held. Commissioner Cliff Belden clearly outlined the cost of the property, which was then $625,000. With the sale of the old fire house, funds to be bonded amounted to $400,000. Belden described the whole process. About 30 people attended the hearing. On July 23 Hoosick Fire District residents had an opportunity to tour the Haynes Ford facility and a small number of people visited the site.
A vote to purchase the property was held on August 26 and 116 people turned out. The tally was 70 in favor of purchasing the property and 46 opposed.
At that point the Hoosick Fire Department paid a $2,500 refundable down payment, $1,800 for appraisals of the fire house and the Haynes Ford property, plus legal fees. Three thousand dollars was expended for an engineering assessment and another $3,000 for an environmental assessment. Commissioner Robert Breese appeared three times before the Hoosick Planning Board to make sure the Route 7 site could be used as a fire house.
This past Tuesday District voters were asked to approve the
purchase of bonds to pay for the new fire house. At 6 pm people lined up to vote. At 7 there was another long line and voters trickled in until the polls closed at 9. Only two people attended the NYS mandated budget hearing held at 7 in another portion of the building.
The room was silent for the 15 minutes it took to unfold and count the votes. The final tally was 82 yes for the bond purchase, 111 no.
Patricia Haines, Ikon realtor for the property said it now goes back on the market. “The people in the community missed a great opportunity,” she said.
Robert Breese added that in today’s market bonds are 4% and under. “We missed the biggest opportunity in the season,” he said.
One women commented that the present fire house was built in 1940 and “They’ve outgrown it ten times over.” A plan to enlarge the current building was voted down several years ago and the volunteer fire company made many improvements to the structure themselves. A new water system had to be put in.
At the Hoosick Falls Fire Department budget hearing meeting Wednesday evening Commissioner Bill Gaillard said when Hoosick Falls wanted to build their new fire station at a cost of $2.1 million only eight people showed up to vote.
The Pittstown Fire Department’s building was recently condemned. The new building will cost them $1.9 million.
The Hoosick Fire District Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss the budget, which will be revised without the bond.