A new fire station is one step closer to reality in Essex.
Council agreed on the future location of Fire Station 2 Monday night.
The current building on Gesto Side Rd. near Malden Rd. was deemed insufficient back in 2016, and will now call the corner Malden Rd. on County Rd. 15 home.
The new fire station will provide a more modern space and improve service to the community, according to Ward 2 Councillor Kim Verbeek.
She tells AM800 News it's time for the change.
"The need for it, we've toured it, it's clear that this should have been done a while ago," she says.
Having toured the current site, she's confident it's the right move.
"Clearly, because it was much needed ... the space was completely insufficient."
Verbeek says the change is about more than the facility.
"It will cut like four or five minutes off to McGregor calls ... they'll get to Essex faster too," added Verbeek.
Council budgeted $400,000 for land and design in the 2019 Capital Budget — the 3-acre property was acquired for $230,000.