Voters defeat Pine Island fire district proposal for new firehouse

Pine Island — Residents of the Pine Island Fire District said no to a new firehouse Tuesday, one that has been in the planning stages for a dozen years. The proposal, which would have allowed the district to borrow up to $4 million, had 139 supporters and 236 opponents. Commissioners said the current firehouse, which is more than 50 years old, had several safety violations and was not large enough to house the department’s vehicles. Currently the district is served by two firehouses, one in Amity which is rented, and the one on County Route 1. The land on which the new firehouse would have been built is directly across from the current building on Route 1 and is already owned by the district. George Haas, one of five fire commissioners in the district, had hoped to apply to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) by April 1 for a low-interest loan since the property is in an agricultural district. “We need to regroup,” said Haas. “We need to hear from the public what made this a negative vote. If they think there is something extravagant that needs to be cut, we need to hear that. Is it is due to economic times? Is it something we’re doing and they’re not getting our message? Write us a letter and we’ll read it at our meeting.” Haas said the department’s Web site is up and running — www.pineislandfireny.com — complete with the rendering of the proposed building. Within a week, he estimated, e-mail service will also be in place. “Drop us an e-mail. It is important that we know what went wrong. The other two buildings will end up being a huge burden on the taxpayers,” Haas said. “I don’t see how we cannot not go to a new building. No ifs, ands, or buts, we need a new firehouse.”