Mike Kelly

A local fire company is closer to its fundraising goal to build a new station after receiving nearly $1 million in federal Community Project Funding.

On March 31, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly presented the Greenfield Township Volunteer Fire Company at 10161 Station Road in North East $975,000 "for a public safety project benefitting communities in northeastern Erie County," according to a release.

"Today Greenfield (Township) is looking at money for a new fire station," Kelly said. "It’s all taxpayer money. I don’t like politicians taking credit for it. All I’m doing is presenting a check that was supplied by hard-working taxpayers and I got a chance to present it."

Greenfield Township Fire Department to build new station

These funds will go towards the construction of a new fire station that will be located 3,600 feet east of the current station.

"This comprises a little under half what the building costs us," said Kevin Bartlett, chief of Greenfield Volunteer Fire Company. "I like that because that way our company has skin in the game. We asked for a little bit under half and that’s what we got. I don’t want to be the guy who asks for the whole thing. With this check here we can stay debt free, which is amazing."

Bartlett says that the overall cost for the new station is $2.561 million. The Community Project Funding brings the current total raised for the project near $1.156 million.

The new station will measure 120-by-80 feet and include five garage doors across the front with three across the back so the larger vehicles, such as the 36-foot apparatus truck, will no longer have to back into the station.

"The station will be 80 feet from the road," Bartlett said. "It’s on a flat section so there’s good visibility both ways and we have a driver out the backside of the station who can open the door, drive in and drive up to the opposite door."

The current station is located on a plot of land that was donated to the company after the original station on Williams Road burned in the late 1940s.

"Unfortunately, they built it really close to the road and not back further," Bartlett said. "So this will be wonderful."

Bartlett hopes to break ground by June, and hopes to be operating the new station by December.

Kelly offers support for fire stations

Kelly said supporting the fire company's desire for a new station was a given because it is easy to see a return value on the investment.

"I think for me it’s one of the most worthwhile things when we take money back to the people and invest in a huge return such as saving lives," Kelly said. "I wish every dollar was spent in the best interest for taxpayers. I look at the waste and the fraud and that is a sin. We take an oath for the people that we represent, and I think if we can’t do that then we can’t do anything."