Serious Consideration for a Serious Need

Editor's Note: This Letter to the Editor was written by Fire Commissioner Harold Straut.

Dear Nanuet Community,

After years of research and planning and after months of working with the community, the Nanuet Fire District is pleased that an important date for the future of our fire department is upon us. On Tuesday, Sept. 17 residents will have the opportunity to vote on our proposed plan for a new facility – a plan that will enhance emergency services to the community, modernize our facility and provide our valued volunteers with a safe environment to work in and one that is energy efficient.

While we cannot tell you how to vote, we hope that you will give serious consideration to the facts that we have presented over the past several months. Our current facility – now 70 years old – is no longer a safe and viable option for emergency response. It is plagued with structural deficiencies, does not meet today’s building standards and frequently floods in wet weather. The building cannot comfortably house modern firefighting equipment due to low ceilings and tight spaces. And as we look to the future of what emergency services will entail, our current building cannot accommodate these needs.

The new firehouse proposed through our plan will be built on land already owned by the taxpayers and will have the ability to house modern equipment. The facility can also serve as a community shelter in times of emergencies and will assist in attracting much-needed volunteers and first responders. The cost for building a new firehouse is modest – approximately $14.23 a month for a taxpayer with an average assessed value of $135,000. For this investment, the safety of every Nanuet Fire District resident and visitor will be enhanced. Furthermore, every business and commercial property within the Fire District will be afforded additional protection through this plan.

Please remember to vote on Sept. 17. Voting will take place at the Nanuet Firehouse on Prospect Street from 6-9 p.m. We hope to see you there. 

Respectfully, 

Harold Straut

Commissioner