Rescue Squad Given Land for New Building

Rescue Squad given land for new building ANDY McKEEVER, Staff Writer Article Launched: 06/14/2007 03:00:49 AM EDT

Thursday, June 14 POWNAL — George and Helen Renner have donated just under an acre of their land to the Pownal Rescue Squad for one reason: the squad needed it.

Pownal headquarters

"The Rescue Squad and Fire Department need all the help they can get," said George Renner. "They needed a place they can call their own."

The donation was completed on Friday and it will give the Rescue Squad an acre of land on Route 7, between Ladd Road and Banister Hill Road, on which to build a new headquarters.

"George and Helen are very nice people, and we can't say enough about how we appreciate what they've done for us," said Rescue Squad Chief Scott Feathers.

The land has been in the Renners' family and was separated by the expansion and relocation of Route 7 in the 1960s.

"It was split from the rest of (our) property when the highway went through our land," said Renner.

The Rescue Squad approached the Renners last year about purchasing the land because they already own two tenths of an acre abutting the property. According to George Renner, they have been figuring out where the boundary lines will be for the past year and that was concluded last week.

"George and Helen are Pownal people at heart and this donation shows that," said Select Board Member Steve Kauppi.

The Rescue Squad used the old firehouse building off Route 346 as a headquarters before that was sold to Brian O'Neil, owner of O'Neil Landscaping. They are currently sharing space in the firehouse at the corner of Route 7 and North Pownal Road. The current location is very cramped, said Feathers.

"It's a tough situation, but they've been very gracious to let us stay here," said Feathers.

According to Feathers, the ambulances are forced to park diagonally in the firehouse in order to fit. Ten pieces of equipment need to be stored in the location along with the Fire Department's equipment. The Rescue Squad has been looking for a new place for the past year. In April, Kauppi suggested using the historic Bartels Lodge on Center Street as joint home for the rescue squad and town offices.

Feathers said the amount of "red tape" involving that building has led the Rescue Squad to search for a new location. With the land acquisition, Feathers did not rule out use of the Bartels Lodge but said the squad will focus on getting the funds to build a headquarters on the newly acquired land.

"We're still open. We haven't ruled out the Bartels house," said Feathers.

Kauppi said he will still pursue the joint usage of the house but is pleased that the Rescue Squad has a place to fall back on.

"I'm very pleased that they got a chunk of property even though it doesn't fit into my desired outcome," said Kauppi. "Who knows what will exactly happen but at least this way they have coverage."

Kauppi said shared usage of the Bartels site makes more sense because the town would get new offices and the rescue squad would be centrally located.

"I think it is in the best interest of the town, financially and physically," he said. "I'm going to continue with it until the town or the Rescue Squad says they don't want it."

The town, which is in need of more office space, currently cannot afford to renovate or build on the town-owned Bartels property on its own. The Rescue Squad has accumulated approximately $250,000 to put toward building a new headquarters.

Kauppi said the town would find grants to help with such a project, and previously discussed plans proposed that new town offices go into a section of a building on the Bartels site, with the squad occupying another section.

"The Rescue Squad has money and they want to build," said Kauppi.

The new location could cost the Rescue Squad approximately $500,000 to build a headquarters, said Feathers. The project has gone out to bid and a few contractors have bid $410,000 to build the building, but that does not include all the other site work. The bid is still open. Feathers said the Rescue Squad will become very active in fund-raising for the building.

Feathers said that the Rescue Squad needs to find a place in the next year. "We're in dire need," he said. "We need to get something done this year."