Construction of the Fire Department parking and equipment building has begun! The Town of Winchester has been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to construct a municipal building at NO COST TO THE TAXPAYERS! The project is being paid for using grant money from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) supplemented by proceeds from land sales.
As most local residents are aware, the Town of Winchester Fire Department has been operating in extremely over-crowded conditions for many years now. Through strategic planning, fiscally responsible operations and purchases, and the generosity of our community, the Fire Department has managed to acquire and maintain the necessary equipment to protect and serve the Town. However, the Department has run out of space to properly store and access this life-saving apparatus. Additionally, the global pandemic has resulted in increased demand for services, especially those provided by the First Responders/EMS team. Despite these restrictive conditions, our volunteers have managed to continue their operations safeguarding the Town of Winchester and surrounding communities.
The total building project is anticipated to cost $260,000 to $300,000. The ARPA funding of $191,753 will cover much of this but leaves a shortfall of about $100,000. With the sale of the Town lands surrounding the old landfill, the Town has received $160,000 from which the balance of the building project costs will be paid. The combination of these one-time funding sources eliminates the tax burden to the local property owners as the project will be entirely funded without increasing taxes.
Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes §60.10 (2)(f) the Electors authorized the construction at the Special Meeting of the Electors held on October 24, 2022. The resulting facility will set up the Fire Department and First Responders for success as well as provide benefits to the community for many years to come.