Angola hits snag in plans to relocate Nickel Plate Depot

Not everyone is happy with the proposed permanent site for the Nickel Plate railroad depot.

At the Village of Angola board meeting Monday (Jan. 9), Mayor Howard “Hub” Frawley read a letter from the Angola Fire Department which requested the board to rescind its plan to move the historic depot to a triangle of grass across from the South Main Street Fire Hall.

“Members of the Angola Volunteer Fire Department had its regular meeting on Dec. 6, 2011 voted as a body to express our opposition in placing the Nickel Plate railroad depot on any portion of Station No. 2 property including the triangle site,” the letter began.

The department believes that placing the depot on the site would obstruct the view for the No. 6 ladder truck when it pulls into traffic.

It could also lead to parking problems, the department’s letter continued, resulting in the public parking in front of the fire station doors or in the space needed for the fire trucks to pull out, should they have to respond to a call.

Thirdly, the department is worried that the depot’s eaves will spill into the roadway and that its fire trucks will hit this overhang as they enter and exit the hall.

The fire department suggested that the depot be moved instead to the site of the old Odd Fellows Hall at 43 South Main St.

“I think we should have another meeting with the Depot Committee and the village board and say ‘What are we going to do now?,’” said Deputy Mayor William Houston. “No matter what we do with this, it’s going to be a thorn in everybody’s side forever.”

While Frawley, agreed, he reminded the board that the opportunity to use state funds to help move the depot will end in March.

“We’re running out of time,” Frawley said. “I don’t care what we do with it as long as we get the money.”

The board plans to hold a workshop with the Depot Committee in the near future to determine if the former Odd Fellows Hall is indeed the best place for the relocation.

“We are going to convene with the Depot Committee but if we don’t get the money, that depot will stay there for another 20 years,” Frawley said.

In other action from the meeting:

• Frawley reported on behalf of Code Enforcement Officer Charles LaBarbera, who was not present at the meeting, that the property at 59 North Main St. had been successfully razed. The demolition process had caused aggravation for many in the community because it took around three months to complete.

“We got it done, better late than never,” Frawley said.

• The board formally approved the newly elected Village of Angola Fire Department officers for 2012. This included Chuck Carlson as fire chief, James Davis Jr. as first assistant chief, and Nick Dybdahl as second assistant chief.

• Police Chief Ernest Masullo commended the village and its police officers for their help in apprehending several youths involved in six recent car larcenies throughout the village. Following a lead, officers were able to locate three suspects in a shed on Grove Street. The youths were found to have several hundred dollars in stolen cash and property, all of which was returned to the victims.

“I’m proud to have so many talented people serving our community,” said Masullo in a letter to the board.

• The board approved an assemblage permit from DefTone Picture Studio to shoot portions of its science-fiction/horror film “Ombis” on North Main Street on June 2, 23 and 30. The permit requested that Main Street be shut down between 8 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. from Lake Street to Center Street and at times, part of LaSalle at York Street during filming.

The Village of Angola has allowed the local production company to use the village streets and various village-owned equipment in its other movie projects, including the 2011 zombie film “The Final Night and Day.”

The next board meeting is set for Monday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Angola Village Hall.