Ortiz: City missed out on site for fire station

Topeka City Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz said Monday she feels the city has lost out on a "great location for a fire station."

Ortiz shared her thoughts regarding how Topeka's city government stands to lose 3.2 acres of donated land at 5700 S.W. 6th Ave. unless it builds a station there by February -- something it doesn't plan to do.

"I think we lost out on a great location for a fire station with all the growth in that area and the 200-plus kids that are in the daycare across the street," Ortiz said. "I feel sad for District 9 residents who pay higher insurance premiums because they don't have a station in their district."

But interim city manager Doug Gerber suggested the city still has options.

"The agreement doesn't end until Feb. 20, 2017," Gerber said Monday. "Obviously we have put a lot of time and resources into evaluating the city's fire service. As decisions on fire station location and resource allocation are made, we will engage the public to make sure their needs and concerns are addressed."

The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System, Inc., agreed in 2010 to donate the land -- located in west Topeka's council District 9 -- to the city to be the site of what was planned to be "Fire Station 13."

A 2012 agreement between the two parties said the land would revert back to Sisters of Charity ownership if a station were not built on it within three years. The agreement was then revised in 2015 to extend that until next February.

Gerber brought the issue to the council's attention several weeks ago, Councilwoman Elaine Schwartz said Monday.

"He and his staff were directed to check it out completely to see how we should proceed," she said. "I have confidence in them bringing forward the right recommendations for the governing body to act on, if needed."

Topeka city officials in March 2013 held dedication ceremonies for the land at 5700 S.W. 6th, where fire station construction was expected to start the following September. But then-city manager Jim Colson said in June 2014 that plans to build the station were on hold due to a lack of available firefighters and apparatus.

Sisters of Charity's plans for the land remain unclear.

The Capital-Journal Monday contacted Brian Newsome, director of public affairs for the Sisters of Charity in Denver. Newsome asked the newspaper to pose questions to Nikki Sloup at St. Francis Health in Topeka. She didn't return telephone messages left Monday.

Credit: Tim Hrenchir tim.hrenchir@cjonline.com