Niskayuna Fire District Number One has been providing award-winning emergency services in our community since 1934.  The building on Balltown Road has been its base of operations for the past 72 years.

As is common for structures of this age, the Balltown Road building no longer meets the needs of a contemporary fire, rescue and emergency medical service.  Among the most fundamental of these needs is that it is no longer a safe facility for the purpose of accommodating modern fire and medical apparatus, equipment and personnel, nor does it comply with numerous building codes and national standards.

The Fire District proposed a replacement structure in 2006 which the District taxpayers were asked to fund via a bond.  This funding request was rejected.

Niskayuna Fire District Number One is again determining how to most effectively upgrade the fire station on Balltown Road to make it a safe and compliant facility that supports the award-winning high quality services that its personnel deliver to the District constituents, twenty-four hours per day, three hundred sixty five days per year.

 We have anticipated a few initial questions that you might have about this…

Q.   Q.  Why propose this project in a recessionary environment?

A.  Construction costs are favorable in the current economy and competition has    driven down public works prices. By buying at the low point in the market and paying off in future (2011 to 2012+) dollars, great value is possible.

Bond payments will not start until 2011-2012 allowing time for economic recovery to occur before bond payments are due.

The need for the fire station renovation/addition is immediate and has existed for a number of years now.

The longer the delay the higher the cost to the taxpayers due to increasing project costs and increasing interest rates.

Q.  Why don’t you move everything to the River Road Station or just expand the fire station at River Road and close this one?

A.  The site is not large enough to construct a building of sufficient size to house all of the fire district operations.           

            There are sewer and water easements on the eastern edge of the property that would prohibit expansion in that direction.

            The property to the west and south is privately owned

            The site would not allow for necessary parking.

            The property has severe changes in the topography.

     The River Road station is not centrally located for the population of our fire district which would increase response times to a majority of our incidents.

     Insurance Services Organization (ISO) standard requires an engine company within 1.5 miles of every structure.  A single fire station at the River Road site would not meet this standard and result in higher cost for fire insurance policies in the community.

     In order to keep volunteer response time to a minimum, two stations are necessary so that firefighters living on either end of the fire district can reach a station within a reasonable amount of time.

     The property on which the station is located has limited access.  If an accident were to occur at the driveway entrance on River Road, firefighters would not be able to get in or out of the site to respond.

     Visibility for responding apparatus is limited to the east of the driveway entrance and entering/exiting the property is difficult during peak traffic times.

     There are deed restrictions that conflict with current state fiscal requirements that would have to be addressed to gain clear title to the property before any construction could be funded by the fire district.

Q.  What is currently happening with your project to build a new fire station?

A.  A new committee was formed in late 2008 to evaluate your responses to our 2006 proposal and the results of the corresponding bond vote.  We have been working hard to address the community’s concerns while not loosing sight of our fundamental obligation to always provide high quality emergency services to you.

Q.  Are you planning to make another formal proposal for a new fire station?

A.  Yes.  As a result of changes in the New York State building code since our last proposal, we are now able to redesign the overall facility to utilize the current building in a cost effective manner, while accommodating many of the issues and concerns expressed by members of the community.

Q.  We already rejected this back in 2006.  What is different this time?

A.  There are many things, some of which are…

• Instead of completely replacing the existing structure, we are incorporating the current building into the overall fire station facility resulting in a more efficient, cost effective design, and the ability to preserve the historic quality of the 72 year old fire station.
• Although we were well-intended in 2006 we have listened very carefully to what taxpayers had to say about the project.  We have been engaged in a rigorous process to actively and openly learn from our previous mistakes.
• This project will be totally open and transparent to all taxpayers.  We are planning significantly more opportunities for the community to review and comment on the project.
• We are seeking Federal stimulus funding through the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 specifically earmarked for fire station construction.  A grant application for this funding was submitted on July 10, 2009 to meet the Federal deadline.

Q.  Who can I contact to find out more information about or get involved with this fire station improvement project?     

A.  As always, any member of the community who has questions or comments about Niskayuna Fire District Number One and this building project, is encouraged to contact the Fire Chief by telephone at 374-8386, or via email at nfd1chief@niskayunafire1.org.