Casco will convert the Company 2 Fire Station on Brown Avenue into a shared-use facility, with the Public Works Department operating out of the two middle bays, while the Fire Department uses the two outer bays.

Town Manager Anthony Ward said the Casco Public Works Department originally started out with one person and one truck, based out of an annex in the town’s Central Fire Station. Over the years, as the department has added more employees, equipment and trucks, it has outgrown the annex, and discussions have sprung up within town government about how to meet the needs of the department and its employees.

Fire Chief Brian Cole proposed giving up a couple of the bays at the Brown Avenue station to the department, and converting the annex currently used by Public Works to storage. After an internal assessment by town employees, the proposal was approved by the Select Board. Ward described the idea as “the best for both worlds,” allowing Public Works to move into a building that would better meet its needs, while still keeping a fire engine in South Casco.

Of the four bays at the station, bays 2 and 3 would be used by Public Works, while bays 1 and 4 would remain with the Fire Department. The former would house a fire engine that would be readily available to fire and rescue call company members living in South Casco.

A major factor in the choice of location was the fact the station contains a venting system that automatically removes exhaust from the building when a fire truck starts up. Ward said this would be much safer for Public Works employees, who would not have to deal with diesel or gas exhaust getting trapped in the building.

The town is already in the process of moving Public Works into the station, with the intent of completing the move by the end of November. While there are several ideas for renovations to the building and the surrounding area, including enhanced parking for the nearby Brown Avenue baseball field, as well as adding electric vehicle charging stations, Ward said there are no modifications in the works beyond moving some desks to accommodate new staff members.