An agreement on the buyout of Lockport Township’s interest in the former Lockport-Fabius-Park Fire Department is apparently near.
That’s the indication given by supervisors from all three townships.
During the June meeting of the Fabius Township Board last week, Supervisor John Kroggel said, “We’re very close in getting the issue taken care of with the buyout for Lockport. I expect that’s going to happen very soon. It is looking good. We’re moving forward on that.”
Park Township Supervisor Joe Eichorn expressed similar sentiments following the Park Township Board meeting, also held last week, and said, “That is working its way to conclusion as far as buying Lockport out. That should take place shortly now.”
Lockport Township Supervisor Ray Signorello gave positive signals, too, during the June meeting of the Lockport Township Board Monday evening (June 13th) and in a post-meeting interview with the River Country Journal in which he used the words “extremely close” when asked about the status of the buyout agreement. He said, “Basically, I think we’re dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. I was hoping to actually have that done at this meeting, but we’re just really to fine tweak things a little bit more.” And he said, “We are extremely close of coming up with a final agreement on that.” (Ray_Signorello_audio clip – :35)
The buyout efforts reflect the end of a 51-year partnership through which the three townships worked together to operate the Lockport-Fabius-Park Fire Department. That arrangement fell apart in 2008 amid controversy surrounding construction of a new fire station on Broadway Road and resulted in formation of the two-township Fabius-Park Fire Department (FPFD).
Lockport Township now contracts with the FPFD to provide fire coverage in a portion of the township with the remainder covered by the Centreville Fire Department. Initially, the protection by the Centreville department was done on a contract basis as well, but, effective April 1st of last year, the township became a full member of the Centreville Fire Department.
