Zionsville staff weigh DPW site and Perry Township land as preferred fire‑station locations

Chief Van Gorder updated the board on the fire‑station feasibility study and potential sites. He said staff asked the consultant to analyze whether the front portion of the DPW site near 875 East & 400 South could accommodate a station and noted the town already owns adjacent property (the Rail Trail Gardens parcel and the dog‑park area). "We would reserve this spot as a future fire station not locking in any timeline for when this would be built," he said.

Van Gorder explained that locating a station on the DPW site could reduce costs because DPW is expected to install infrastructure (water, sewer, electric) in calendar 2026. He said the town has also closed on land in western Perry Township and is scheduled to close next Tuesday on a Michigan Road parcel; staff expect the Perry project to be the first build, with construction timelines for additional stations likely falling in a multi‑year sequence possibly between 2028 and 2030, depending on funding.

The chief described a wider planning concept for a training center on land purchased in the west that could host driver training, bus‑transport drills and a safety village; staff are coordinating with Zionsville Schools and will present concept drawings in the next 30–60 days and pursue some private funding opportunities. The chief noted the training center would support both fire and bus transport training and that some facilities (public restroom access off the trail) could be co‑located to serve the community.

Board members noted that additional stations increase the need for more firefighters and that securing funding and staffing will determine which projects proceed first.