City administration held an open house to discuss concerns over a proposed fire hall at Milloy Street and Chandler Road at Most Precious Blood Church Thursday evening.
Shovels could be digging a new 10,000 square ft. fire station as early as April.
Walkerville resident Joey Wright, who is also running for council, says he wasn’t aware of the project until he was notified of the open house a week earlier.
"I think this is to please the public, to say we have heard your concerns but we are going to go ahead with this proposal."
Wright says he would have liked to have had a greater say in the project.
Residents say there is quite a bit of traffic on Milloy which they claim is narrow and there have been a number of accidents.
They also point out there are two nearby schools.
Still, administration says they have looked at other sites and feel the city owned property they have selected is the ideal spot.
Fire Chief Bruce Montone admits planning and construction is being fast tracked.
"Dealing with fire protection is very complicated," he says.
The location is one of two halls the city council approved at a price tag of $9- million.
It comes after a provincial arbitration ruling awarded Windsor firefighters a 15 per cent wage increase and reduced work week hours in the fall.
Despite the open house residents remain unconvinced and worry about the impact the five to six fire calls officials estimate crews will have to respond to a day will bring.
The second station at Northwood Street and Daytona Avenue is also in the planning stages and administration is anxious to get both buildings completed before the end of the year.
