Irwin fire department proposes $1 million building

The Irwin fire department want to build a $1 million hall to house trucks, ambulances, a meeting room and possibly borough offices and police department at the site of the former Sixth Street School.

Leaders of the volunteer group told borough officials this week that they hope to build a one-story, 7,200-square-foot building, which also would include a six-bay garage, meeting room and kitchen for the fire department and emergency medical service. The garage would be about 1½ stories tall because of the need for 14-foot doors to accomodate fire trucks.

About 2,700 square feet of space could be reserved for borough offices as well as the police department, if council wants to move to the site, Fire Chief Justin Mochar told council. The fire department would share a meeting room with the borough, and council meetings could be held in that space, Mochar said.

The building could provide the police department with a separate entrance. The section of the building used by municipal offices could be two stories, if prefered, Mochar said.

The building design has not been finalized. “We’re still tinkering with it,” Mochar said.

The building would not have a social hall like some other fire departments, Mochar said. Any fundraisers could be held in the garage bay.

“It should be a nice facility. It fits perfectly” in the 2.3-acre site along Sixth Street at the Chestnut Street intersection, Mochar said.

Borough officials did not make any decision Tuesday. They plan to meet with Mochar and the prospective builder to discuss space in a new building. The borough would pay to build its portion, should they decide to move forward, Mochar said.

Council President Rick Burdelski discussed the possibility of holding a town hall meeting in March to get public input.

Councilman Frank Rocco Jr. said it would be good to move to a handicapped-accessible site. Borough offices and the police department are on the second floor of a building at 424 Main St. with no elevator. Rosendahl’s Appliance Center occupies the first floor of the building.

The fire department wants to move from its location on Western Avenue because it is running out of space, Mochar said. The hall is built along the edge of a hillside, with neighboring properties on either side.

If the department selects the site for a fire hall, it would like to have a 100-year lease on the site from the borough for $1. The borough has owned the property since the Norwin School District sold it in November 1995 for $1, according to documents filed with the county Recorder of Deeds. A former school building there stood vacant for several years before it was demolished in 1998.

To help fund the project, Mochar said he contacted state Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, and was told that building plans were needed in order to qualify for any state grants. The best-case scenario would be to get a grant to cover half of the cost, Mochar said. Ward could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Creating a municipal complex at the site might make it more attractive to state officials when they consider an application for funds, Mochar said. The $1 million estimated cost is for the shell of the building, not the furnishings.

The department estimates it would pay an annual mortgage of $88,000.

“We feel as a fire department, we can swing it. The fire tax will help,” Mochar said, referring to the new 2 mill tax that council added to the 2021 budget.