Sparks still fly as La Crosse Council mulls replacing Fire Stations No. 2 and No. 4
April 8, 2021 9:31 PM Mike Tighe
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LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) Replacing Fire Stations No. 2 and No. 4 continues to spark fireworks among La Crosse Common Council members, including an often-volatile debate Thursday night.
After a lengthy kerfuffle during a Zoom meeting, the council voted 8-4 to adopt an amended resolution to proceed with replacing Station No. 2 with a new building on La Crosse Street this year but put Station No. 4 on hold pending a decision on its proposed historic designation.
The resolution also approved moving ahead with an extensive remodeling of Fire Station No. 1, including the second-floor bathroom, locker room, and bunkrooms.
Public hearing set for historic designation for La Crosse Fire Station No 4
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La Crosse fire chief requests city to delay plans to demolish 80-year-old Fire Station No 4
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That was the message delivered in a petition by the Preservation Alliance of La Crosse.
“We are looking at this as an opportunity to save money for the city, and save a historic building,” PAL president Barb Kooiman said.
Kooiman understands the fire department needs a new station, but she wants the city to also keep the old building for other purposes.
“There is ample space to keep the existing building,” Kooiman said.
She says the city can save taxpayer dollars by preserving it instead of demolishing it.
But fire chief Ken Gilliam says the petition is not timely.
“Unfortunately at this late in the game, it’s causing a point of frustration,” Gilliam said.
Petition calls on La Crosse to stop demolition of historic Fire Station No. 4
March 9, 2021 12:17 AM Molly Ringberg
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The group said the station has historic value and should be preserved, explaining in their petition, “the building is a cultural and economic asset that belongs to the taxpayers.”
Station No. 4 was built in 1940.
The petition stated that it could be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
In a statement released to News 8 Now Monday, the City of La Crosse Fire Department said the Mayor’s Fire Station Task Force submitted a recommendation to the council in 2018 to demolish and replace Stations No. 2 and No. 4 with new, modern facilities.