What's the rush for a new Pine Island firehouse?

To the editor: We attended the Pine Island district fire meeting concerning the proposed new firehouse. First, let us say we do see the need of having an up-to-date firehouse so all the equipment would be in one place securely, but several concerns were brought forth by the public attending the meeting. We thought we’d share these: 1. The fire district is asking us to approve a $4 million loan for 30 years to build the new firehouse with a final end cost of $6+ million (that’s more than the Warwick firehouse on West Street). 2. There are only approximately 600 households to share this burden. 3. This year we saw a 28 percent increase in our taxes for the fire district. This loan, they say, would now add $3 per $1,000 assessed value of our home to our bill in 2009, but these numbers don’t add up to the loan amount. It seems that $6 per $1,000 is a better fit. 4. In approximately 10 years a new replacement truck will be needed at an additional cost to us. 5. No members of the Pine Islansd Chamber of Commerce or private citizens were on the planning board for this, resulting in what many think is unnecessary extras to the house such as three offices, a weight room and a 288-seat gymnasium (but only 79 parking spaces). 6. The rushed feeling many have seeing that the vote is March 25. 7. Only basic drawings were available such as a floor plan and a rough site plan. No drawing of the front of the building was done so that the public could see how it would fit in the community. All attending do feel it is time to act but in an economy that is struggling, some compromises needs to be done to be fiscally responsible. Since the date is already set to vote, I think a NO vote is necessary to have the above concerns addressed before we take on such a long-term commitment.The meeting was poorly attended by the public but we hope many of the people that this will affect will come out and vote. Daniel and Sandra Boyce Pine Island