Ghent firemen getting more modern

Work is nearing completion on the $90,000 renovation project at Ghent City Hall.
The main renovation project inside the building is to the basement area which will modernize the Ghent Fire Department office and meeting room, while adding a kitchenette, decontamination area and a bathroom.
"This is basically where he get dressed when there is a fire call," said Ghent Fire Chief Cory Crowley as he pointed to a confined area inside the garage where the fire trucks are parked.
When the renovation project is completed soon, the 19 volunteer firemen that comprise the Ghent Fire Department will have much more room in the truck bay to put their fire fighting gear on before hopping aboard one of the trucks.
And when they return from a fire, the firemen have to bring their clothing and gear to be cleaned and sanitized to Marshall or Minneota.
"We will have our own decontamination room here now with a extractor and dryer," said Crowley. "And we now have our bathroom downstairs, too, with showers. We had to go upstairs before. It's going to be so much better for us when this is all done."
A large meeting room downstairs will allow for Zoom meetings, television screens and more.
The main room downstairs previously had a dirt floor and was used for indoor rolle-bolle with a dirt floor.
Ghent is known as the self-proclaimed Rolle-Bolle Capitol of the World.
An office for the fire department will be located just off the meeting room to the west.
"Our meeting room was also upstairs before," said Crowley. "That will now be used for lockers and storage."
Entrances and exits have had to be altered to meet ADA compliance, too, during the renovation process.
The project is being funded from the city's COVID money, which includes three townships, a grant approved by the Lyon County commissioners, and a loan from the State Bank of Taunton.
Some of the work is being done by the firemen themselves. Josh Brewers is doing the construction work, Frank's Electric the electrical work, and Brian Rogge the sheetrocking.