Published: April 22, 2009 07:30 pm      

Cayuga to break ground for fire station

CAYUGA, Ind. — Saturday will be a big day for volunteer firefighters in Cayuga.

Ground will be broken for a new fire station/community center thanks to a $500,000 Community Development Assistance Program grant.

Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and a representative of the state fire marshal’s office will be present for the ceremony.

Dowayne Osborne, a 40-year member of the fire department, took on the project at the request of Fire Chief Tim Wilson. He said Wednesday that he has raised $130,000 locally for the facility. The matching grant only required $75,000.

“We have 15 contractors looking at this project,” Osborne said. “We will open bids at 2 p.m. EDT Friday and take two or three days to go over them.”

Osborne hopes construction can begin within two weeks.

“They say we can be in the building by Thanksgiving,” he said.

The proposed new building will be 150 feet by 60 feet and include four bays to handle six trucks. 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 and a training and meeting room.

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

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

Wilson said the new facility was long overdue.

“We have needed a new fire house,” he said.

One of the keys, Wilson said, is that the firefighters can have a meeting without pulling the trucks out of the station to meet.

Osborne said the group received 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 of Eugene Township.

“The community center will give people another option for meetings,” Wilson said. “The only places big enough to handle groups are the Christian Church and the American Legion.”

COMING UP

A groundbreaking ceremony for a new fire station/community center will be at 10 a.m. EDT Saturday across from the present station at Logan and Curtis streets.