Public Safety Substation to Open This Summer

’s new safety substation off Johnson Road is constructed, and laborers are toiling on the inside of the building for an anticipated July 1 opening.

Township Manger Frank Siffrinn said the paving and utility work will commence during warmer temperatures, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to follow.

The substation, which will house public safety operations, will help better protect residences and commercial structures in the area near The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

“There are (more than) 1,000 homes in that area there,” Siffrinn said, adding that the township had been concerned about response time when the principal owners of the casino offered up the property on Johnson Road several years ago.

He said the 1.2 acres of property would have easily sold for about $100,000—but that the owners of The Meadows Racetrack & Casino instead donated it to the township for the construction of the substation.

It will house fire equipment, office space and other amenities for emergency responders, which isn’t without its challenges.

“The challenge for us is going to be manning the facility so it is open 24-7,” Siffrinn said. “We only have six full-time firefighters, and then we have the volunteers.”

He said discussions with Peters Township and its fire department on possible shared services are ongoing.

Township fire Chief Mark Grimm said the is excited about the opening of the substation for several reasons—one being the residences being better served, as Siffrinn had stated.

But the other reason is the influx of people coming into the township on the weekends to visit , stay at the various hotels and patronize other businesses.

“Our population pretty much doubles on the weekend,” he said.