August 15, 2011
Monday

I to had wondered why they chose to put the new Ketchikan fire station there. I wondered why they hadn't decided to put the new library there instead and the new fire station up on the hill. The response I got the most was, response time to an emergency call, especially in the winter time. So I sit and ponder Chris Elliott's letter and think to myself, how will the response time be during tourist season? I get a picture in my mind of complete chaos, tourist running everywhere, cars backed up, tourist vehicles trying to find room to pull over to let the emergency response vehicles by (especially the Amphibious Duck Tour Vehicles), and the firetrucks still trying to fight their way through the tourist season traffic.

I know the fire station is situated downtown now, but the location for the new one, is in my opinion the craziest section of streets to drive during tourist season, even with the crossing guards. My thought is will they end up having to go up and over the hill the back way to respond to a call north of town, take alternate routes to avoid tourist season, and will response time be hindered? No scenerio is ever perfect and I know this.

I am however happy our library is going where it is, the youth of our town will have access, to a pool, a rec center, ball parks, a skate park, play grounds, and the new library all within a half mile radius, which will in my opinon be good for them. My hopes are that others will continue on that concept, bring their ideas, and build a safe part of town for our youth to go.

Thank you,

Dawn Luna
Ketchikan, AK