Fire Station Plans Preserve Most of Woods

Plans for a new fire station at 255 E. Centennial Drive perserve all but an acre-and-a-half of the wooded area across from the post office.

City officials say that leaves about 12 acres of woods undisturbed, which has been a frequent question among some residents.

Crews may begin clearing the site within the next few weeks, City Administrator Gerald Peterson said. A lot of preliminary work is needed before construction can start, he said, which could happen in August or September.

The latest plans for a new Fire Station 1, currently across from Oak Creek High School, were presented to the Common Council on Tuesday. They call for a two-story building that will be about the same square footage as the department headquarters at 7000 S. 6th St.

The station handles about 50 percent of all calls to the Oak Creek Fire Department—easily the most out of the city's three stations, Peterson said. Fire Chief Tom Rosandich said the building will enhance the city's fire and paramedic services now and in the long term.

The station is one of two new municipal structures Oak Creek is planning. A joint city hall-library building will be constructed as part of the Drexel Town Square development project near the corner of Drexel and Howell avenues.