The City of Edmond is poised to enhance its commitment to public safety with a proposal for a new and improved Fire Station 3, contingent on the approval of voters in the upcoming November 5 election. Edmond on the GO, a General Obligation Bond program, sets forth an ambitious agenda seeking to amass $231 million through a 15-mill levy over a span of a decade for urban development projects encompassing streets, parks, and notably, fire safety.
Chris Goodwin, the Edmond Fire Department's chief since August 2017, emphasized the significant role of strategic location in fire safety services: "Having a fire station in the proper location – with trained professionals equipped with the best tools – is extremely important for our efforts at ensuring timely responses to emergency calls." Current challenges faced by Fire Station 3, constructed in 1983, include extensive maintenance issues, a cramped area of 5,210 square feet, and response delays due to increased traffic density in the vicinity, Goodwin disclosed in a statement made by the Edmond's official website.
Included in the bond proposal is a $10 million allocation, representing 5 percent of the total funding, specifically for the relocation and renovation of Fire Station 3. The proposed new facility, slated to occupy the northwest corner of Kelly Avenue and Hawthorne Lane, will span 11,000 square feet and house seven to 10 firefighters, a notable upgrade from the station's current capacity. "A larger fire station will give us the ability to operate two fully staffed response vehicles from the station and provide better response times when multiple emergencies occur in the area," Goodwin stated on the city's official website, pointing out the limitations imposed by the present station's design, which reflects a bygone era with lighter traffic and fewer emergency calls.
Fulfilling Edmond's anticipation for growth, a brand new establishment, Fire Station 6, is already underway on North Kelly Avenue and is slated to be operational by 2025. This 11,000-square-foot station will accommodate seven fire personnel and reinforce the city's readiness to respond swiftly to emergencies in its expanding boundaries. The strategic expansion follows Edmond receiving a prestigious ISO rating of 1, a testament to the Fire Department's optimal efficacy in responding to fires. "Less than 1 percent of the fire departments in the nation have an ISO rating of 1," said Goodwin, according to the city's official website, underscoring the significant impact such a rating has on both the community's safety assurance and potential insurance cost reductions for residents and businesses.
Complementary to the fire safety initiatives, a significant portion of Edmond on the GO's budget, 65 percent, or $151 million, is destined for street enhancements. This aspect aligns with Edmond residents' repeatedly expressed concerns, tackling essential projects like resurfacing, intersection amendments, pedestrian safety, and the continuation of traffic management programs. "Any improvement to our streets and intersections," Goodwin mentioned, "to help with traffic flow and overall mobility can do nothing but help us ensure quick and efficient response times," as reported by the City of Edmond. These multifaceted improvements aim to solidify a standard of public safety that Edmond's inhabitants have not only become accustomed to but also rightfully demand as their city evolves.
