At the July 15 session of the Erie County Legislature, Majority Leader Lynn Marinelli (D-Tonawanda/Buffalo) and her colleagues in the Legislature approved $250,000 in Erie County funds for a restoration project at the Town of Tonawanda Public Safety Training Center.

The funding authorization follows a resolution filed by Legislator Marinelli on April 28, 2004 calling upon the County Executive "to develop County funding for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Tonawanda Fire Tower Training Facility through the use of tobacco securitization proceeds and any other revenue sources."

"This is a matter of great importance to emergency responders in the Town of Tonawanda, Village of Kenmore, City of Tonawanda and Town of Grand Island," Majority Leader Marinelli said. "This facility trains emergency responders for the volunteer fire departments in the towns, as well as the police department and emergency medical technicians, paramedics and corresponding emergency responders."

Marinelli noted that that the tower, located at 70 Fire Tower Way off Two Mile Creek Road adjacent to the Youngmann Expressway, is a regional asset that has helped save live through comprehensive training of emergency responders for 33 years.

Marinelli added that according to town officials, the Fire Tower, related classroom training building and other training equipment there are "badly in need of rehabilitation and upgrade," with the total project cost estimated at approximately $1.225 million, including $250,000 needed for "urgent repairs to the deteriorating Fire Tower itself."

A report, by Trautman Associates, reviewing the structural assessment of the fire tower was released in December 2003.

In her resolution, Marinelli said the County Legislature wants to assist the town in rehabilitating and upgrading the Fire Tower facility "as part of our local homeland security initiatives to continue to help prepare and train our emergency responders."

"I am pleased that the Legislature and the County Administration were able to join together to get this done," said Legislator Marinelli.

Marinelli's resolution also notes that seven of Erie County's top 20 potential targets are in the Town of Tonawanda, according to a federal target vulnerability and threat assessment, with the Town being home to the highest concentration of extremely hazardous substances in Erie County.

Other levels of government are also being asked to assist with this project.

Back to District 11 Homepage