MARLBORO – A public question seeking voter approval for the construction of a new firehouse was defeated by a count of 157 “no” to 111 “yes,” according to the Board of Fire Commissioners in Fire District No. 3 in Marlboro.
Fire District No. 3 encompasses the Wickatunk, Spring Valley and Pleasant Valley portions of Marlboro and covers portions of Route 79 from Wyncrest Road to the Marlboro-Aberdeen Township border, and portions of Texas Road, Route 520 and Conover Road.
A referendum on a proposal to construct a $6.98 million firehouse at 393 Route 79 in the Morganville section of the township was held on Oct. 13. The final tally of 157 to 111 includes votes cast at the polling location, mail-in ballots and provisional ballots, according to the fire commissioners.
Fire District No. 3 is served by the volunteer Morganville Fire Company, which was created in March through the merger of the Morganville Independent Fire Company and the Morganville Volunteer Fire Company.
The referendum proposed the construction of a new building to house the new Morganville Fire Company. Construction would have taken place on the property at 393 Route 79. The firehouse at that address was the home of the former Morganville Independent Fire Company.
The fire commissioners said that building, a 7,880-square-foot structure, would have been used until the new firehouse had been completed. At that time the existing building would have been demolished and additional parking would have been created.
Plans for the proposed firehouse included 14,438 square feet of space on the first floor, including room for vehicles, office space, storage space, a kitchen and locker rooms. The second floor, with 2,379 square feet of space, would have contained a lounge and two rehabilitation centers for firefighters, according to the fire commissioners.
