Surveys needed for George firehouse

Information to be used for grant application

GEORGE - Grant County Fire District No. 3 is looking for income surveys from Grant County residents near George.

The district needs at least 50 surveys returned to finish an application for a Community Development Block Grant.

The district is applying for roughly $900,000 to build a new fire station in George.

The grant is designed to help low- and moderate-income areas with housing, infrastructure, community facilities, economic development and planning projects. Money for the grant comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The fire district does have information about the city of George, but they need the information from the surrounding area, district Fire Chief Don Fortier said.

"Without getting those (surveys) back, we won't be able to apply," he said. "It's not too late for people to send those in."

The surveys were sent out last week and ask for the income level of the household. Residents would need to list the number of residents in the house and their income for 2007, including tips. They would then need to send the surveys back to the district.

The district is planning on spending about $1.3 million on the new building. The 7,000-square-foot addition would include six truck bays, four bedrooms, training and community room and decontamination room. The station was built in the early 1960s and was added on to in the 1970s, but had become too small for newer fire equipment.

"Fire apparatus continues to grow much like today's farm equipment," Fortier said. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit volunteer firefighters due to the changing demographics of the area. By providing sleeping rooms we will be able to start a resident firefighter program to staff the fire station."

Fortier said he wants to build the station without costing the residents any additional money, which is why the district is applying for the grant. The rest of the funding would come from the district's reserve fund, state loan money and volunteer help.