Topeka committee to create fire station master plan

Topeka city manager Brent Trout intended to staff a proposed new fire station on S.W. 6th Avenue at no additional cost to the city by closing the current Fire Station 11 at 2000 N.W. Lower Silver Lake Road and moving its personnel and equipment to that site.

But that plan sparked controversy at Tuesday’s meeting of the Topeka City Council.

“This is an unfair thing to even think about doing,” said Councilwoman Sandra Clear, who represents the district where Fire Station 11 stands.

Mayor Michelle De La Isla expressed concern that the proposed move would involve replacing a fire station in an area that is low-income with a station in an area that is not.

(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)