Published: March 10, 2008 10:03 am      

Cayuga plans for new fire station

Site would serve as community center

CAYUGA, Ind. — Cayuga may get a new fire station/community center if a grant comes through.

The town council is applying for a $500,000 Community Development Assistance Program grant to build a new fire station/community center across from the present station at Logan and Curtis streets. The grant is due to state officials Friday.

Dowayne Osborne, a 38-year member of the fire department, took on the project at the request of Fire Chief Tim Wilson.

“I have been working on it for two years,” he said.

The proposed new building would be 150 feet by 60 feet and include four bays to handle six trucks. It will either be a steel structure or pole barn. The land, the former site of a lumber yard, was donated by local businessman Albert Clark.

The fire station will include a small storage room, communications room, two offices, a training and meeting room and a weight room.

“I tried to put things in the building that would make it easier for the future,” Osborne said.

The community center will be available for meetings, parties and receptions.

“It can handle 75 to 100 people,” Osborne said.

He said the American Red Cross would designate the building as a disaster center for northern Vermillion County.

“We have outgrown the building we are in,” said Wilson. “It has served its purpose and is hard to heat.”

Wilson wants a building where firefighters don’t have to pull the trucks out on the street to have a meeting.

“We sat down and came up with some plans.”

Bob Booth and Clark, former town council president, are serving with Osborne on a committee to design the building.

Sandra Powers of Ladoga is writing the grant, and Judith Kleine of Crawfordsville is the architect.

“I retired two years ago (from the Indiana State highway garage), and I was sitting around the fire chief’s shop when he said I think it is time to get a new fire station,” Osborne said. “The more I got involved I found out we could do it.”

Osborne and his group have raised $100,000 to match the grant, including a $50,000 donation from the Vermillion County Economic Development Council.

Various fundraisers have included a barbecue, events at Burger King, a bean dinner, breakfast and through a flier sent to all residents in Eugene Township.

“The community is going to benefit from the center,” Wilson said. “The only places big enough to handle groups are the Christian Church and the American Legion.”



FAST FACTS

A new Cayuga fire station/community center is planned for Logan and Curtis streets.