After struggling diligently for several years to either remodel the old fire hall in downtown Victor or move to a new one, the efforts finally made it over the hilltop and have concluded in what could accurately be described as an avalanche of generosity. Several volunteers were on hand last Friday to start the preliminary work that could get the fire department into the new facility, located south of town on Meridian Road, by the beginning of the new year.
According to Victor Fire Chief Scott Hackett, the efforts really began back in 2009 when the fire department applied for a grant for a “shovel ready” project but didn’t get it. However, having recognized the need, they decided to start putting money aside for some sort of remodel. About a year ago, according to Hackett, they had accumulated enough in the Capital Improvement Fund to get serious about a remodel project and put it out to the public.
“The public response has been tremendous,” said Roylene Gaul, who worked hard on raising funds for the project.
In the meantime, the department received an offer from a local businessman to sell them his large manufacturing facility sitting on six acres of land just south of town for less than its appraised value. Hackett said that they looked at three other properties in Victor and decided that this one was the best fit for their needs. He said it was hard to move outside of town but that the old fire hall was very poorly situated right across from the town park where people recreate and children play. He said to get property in town they were looking at $1-to-$1.5 million. For $400,000 they were getting a facility that would need minimal work to accommodate the fire department with six acres for future expansion. The inside is already divided into one third office space and two-thirds open space which suits the department’s needs well, according to Hackett.
Gaul put the fundraising efforts into overdrive and you should see her smile when she talks about the results. She was handed a check for $1,000 the morning of the interview and said she had been given a check for $2,000 the previous night. Hackett said that Gaul raised close to $70,000.
Anxious to get a move on, the department made the decision to take the money they had saved and the money they had raised and take out a $230,000 loan and do the deal. By the end of the summer they had organized the financing and the deal was closed at the end of October.
Then things took an astonishing turn and the loan has already been paid off.
“We paid it off yesterday,” said Hackett. He said a community member who read about the project came forward and offered to pay off the loan.
Several volunteers were on hand Friday taking out some interior walls and setting the stage to install a couple of doors big enough to accommodate fire engines on the north side of the building. Some additional work is planned on the parking area around the outside the building as well. Hackett said the land has been annexed into the Victor Sewer District and is being connected to the community sewer system.
Gaul said that the plan was to get enough work done that they can move in by January. She said everyone in the department was very thankful for the community’s support.
“We wouldn’t be doing this right now without the incredible outpouring of support this community has shown,” said Gaul. She said it’s very exciting when you get these huge donations. But her heart is moved by the small donations as well.
“Small donations mean a lot too,” she said. She recalled one elderly woman that she knew was living on a very frugal budget who came up and handed her $5.
“Five dollars may not seem like much,” said Gaul, “but it was to her. And it was to me.”
She said one young person from town came and donated all the tip money they had earned that evening. “That’s the kind of support we’ve been getting from the Victor community,” she said. “It runs the gamut from a few dollars to thousands of dollars and it is all very much appreciated.”