Milliron Foundation, Village of Plymouth partner on new fire station

PLYMOUTH ― The generosity of the late Grant Milliron and the Milliron Foundation in partnership with the Village of Plymouth means the Plymouth Fire Department is getting a new station.

Mayor Cassaundra Fryman said the Milliron Foundation gifted $2.8 million toward the station, which is expected to cost $3.4 million.

"We are so fortunate as a community to be considered for such a generous donation from the Milliron Foundation. Grant's philanthropy has left fingerprints all over the county, and our fire house was the last community project that Grant was personally overseeing," Fryman said. "It's a great legacy for a wonderful person that took community stewardship to heart. Our community will be better served with this new structure."

Fire Chief Richard Metzger said Milliron, a local businessman and philanthropist, requested a meeting in December 2022, and said "through his friendship with the Frisch family a seed had been planted by God within him to help our department and community."

"During this meeting, we reviewed every aspect of the department, such as staffing, our building, our apparatus and our finances. I left the meeting with what he called 'homework' and reported back to him over the next few months to turn in my 'homework assignments.' He in turn did his homework, too. Looking at all of the facts presented to him, Mr. Milliron made a decision on what that seed from God was," Metzger said.

Metzger made the announcement Tuesday during a Plymouth Village Council meeting that Milliron will partner with Plymouth and provide a donation for replacement of the fire station, with relocation to the former high school property at 184 Sandusky St.

History of Plymouth fire station

The fire station at 20 Portner St. has been used since the early 1970s, Metzger said.

The upper portion of the building is said to have been built in the mid-1950s and served as the home for the Plymouth Civil Defense. This part of the building is single cinder block walls with a concrete roof. It was Cold War-era and intended to be a fallout shelter if needed. After the Civil Defense disbanded in the early 1970s, the building was given to the Plymouth Fire Department.

The lower portion of the building was added around1983 and allowed the department to house four additional trucks and equipment.

"Through the years we have utilized every square inch of space so we can to keep up with the ever changing needs of the fire service, EMS, and our community," Metzger said. "We currently provide part-time fire and EMS coverage for the community, and do not have any places for personnel (showers) or bunk areas for overnight personnel to sleep."

Fire gear is stored in apparatus bays where it is exposed to diesel exhaust and contaminates. As for the building, there is a separation of walls because of the weight of the roof, "and my biggest fear is it falling in on itself with equipment or people inside," Metgzer said.

Other issues with the current building include fitting the newer firetrucks in the available space and exiting the station because of cramped angles and turning radiuses, he said.

"We have outgrown our 'house,' and have previously attempted to apply for many grants to replace or refurbish this building. It has served its purpose and has been a part of our community for almost 70 years," he said.

New Plymouth fire station

Metzger said up to Milliron's death in July they had worked together looking at property within the village as well as the needs and wants of the fire department. The research included field trips to newer fire stations and meetings with local property owners.

When Milliron died, the status of the project was uncertain until last fall when Metzger was contacted by Karl Milliron, Grant Millirons's son, of the Milliron Foundation. He had found his father's project folder, which included a set of plans for the fire station.

Meetings were held with Fryman and council to present the project and discuss the future of it. The decision was made by the Milliron Foundation to proceed with the donation.

After meetings with Karl Milliron and Simonson Construction, the original plans were refined and finalized with the Milliron Foundation on May 2.

The almost 12,000-square-foot, wood/steel hybrid structure will about double the space the department now has, and provides what the chief considers a state-of-the-art facility with the safety of firefighters as a top priority.

"The new four-bay/eight-truck facility will have separation of truck bays from the living quarters. Included in the design are three offices, a day room with kitchen, full restrooms with showers, bunk rooms, an exercise area, dedicated gear storage area with decon room, a 'museum' for storage of the Model A, and a community room for our fire trainings and community use," Metzger said. "The new location will provide the space for any future expansion and easy access to Sandusky Street from Mary Fate Park Drive."

Final goals

The Firefighters Association will begin immediately to raise funds through donations to cover the costs of furnishing the station as well as for the move. Donations can be made to: Firefighters Association, C/O The Plymouth Fire Department, 48 W. Broadway St., Plymouth, OH 44865.

"The Village of Plymouth will be responsible for a portion of the construction cost, and we (the department, mayor, and council) are working hard and diligently to acquire funding through grants to cover this cost so there is no burden on our taxpayers," Metzger said.

For information about helping to offset costs, call Metzger at 419-687-5101.

Metzger said he thanks Grant Milliron for taking "the seed" and planting it.

"I just wish he could be here to watch it grow. Mr. Milliron was a very selfless and caring person who is giving so much to our community and the surrounding communities, and words cannot express how grateful we are. I would also like to thank Karl Milliron for picking up this project where his dad left off and following the wishes of Grant through the Milliron Foundation," he said.

Grant Milliron had generous heart for Richland County

In 2017, Grant Milliron announced he would build the city of Shelby a new fire station, and he did.

During the Shelby fire station's ceremony in November 2018, Milliron said, "This project is one of the pinnacles of my life. Our family is going to dedicate the building to God, our Heavenly Father, but we're also going to gift the building to Shelby and the surrounding community."

Grant Milliron was the founder of Milliron Recycling in Mansfield. He died July 26, 2023, at the age of 88.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Milliron Foundation gifts $2.8 million of estimated $3.4 million cost