City council approves plans for new fire station

Angela Yuan, Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Coppell City Council unanimously voted to approve plans for a fourth fire station, proposed by Coppell Fire Department Chief Kevin Richardson. The projected budget for the project is $11.3 million. 

According to Richardson, the new station will allow the department to respond to emergencies on the west side of Coppell more quickly.

“It’s important for folks to understand before we spend $11 million,” council member Gary Roden said. “A minute doesn’t seem like a lot [until] your house is on fire or you’re having a heart attack, so I appreciate the diligence of the [fire] department.

The city council also unanimously approved the purchase of three fire engines from the Houston-Galveston Area Council. The fire department presently lacks reserve fire engines for emergencies. According to Richardson, it is the third time that Coppell has replaced all three fire engines simultaneously. 

“All three of [the fire engines presently used by the Coppell Fire Department] were purchased by Coppell in 2010,” Richardson said. “They will reach their projected lifespan of 10 years as frontline apparatus during this fiscal year.”

The purchase will cost approximately $2.3 million.

Due to numerous requests from the fire department, the council approved two new on-street parking-free zones along Mapleleaf Lane. Contacted homeowners in the area were not in opposition to the zones.

A new office was appointed for the City of Coppell’s Boards & Commissions. According to Mayor Karen Hunt, there are two new boards this year.

Hosted by the City of Coppell, the Gobble Wobble 5K and Fun Run will take place at Andrew Brown Park East on Nov. 23. 

Coppell’s annual holiday tree lighting will take place on Dec. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Andrew Brown Park East.

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