Greenville gets new cold storage building

GREENVILLE – Through volunteer efforts, the town has a new four-bay emergency services cold storage building at a reduced cost.

Originally the building was estimated to cost $35,000, but with volunteer labor the building was constructed for $22,200, Greenville Fire Chief John Cobb told selectmen Wednesday.

Through an $8,500 grant, Plum Creek is funding work still left to be done, including installing a donated back-up generator the town may use in an emergency, Cobb said.

A pole-barn shed behind the fire station was removed to make room for the new storage building.

Two of the bays in the new building will be used to store police department equipment and evidence, a third will be used by the fire department, and the fourth by the town office to store documents.

“I’m proud of the building; it’s going to be a huge asset for the town,” Cobb said.

Cobb also discussed equipment needs with selectmen. He said a $25,000 King Foundation grant was used to purchase a pickup truck that will be used to ferry firefighters or equipment to and from a fire scene. Some additional work needs to be done to the truck before it will be in full service, he said.

The next vehicle that will need to be replaced is the 1957 tanker truck, according to Cobb. He said the former oil truck was converted to carry water but has leaks. The chassis has more than 300,000 miles on its odometer.

Cobb, who asked selectmen to consider funding a replacement in the future, estimated the cost at $165,000.