Fire Station 15 off Roberts Road in east Medford.

Medford city councilors Thursday night resolved to replace a 50-year-old east Medford fire station noted for its “teeter-toter” toilets with a new $9.5-million facility.

During a study session, councilors debated options to pay for it, such as tapping into marijuana tax revenues, dipping into reserves and increasing fees.

Ryan Martin, Medford’s chief financial officer and assistant city manager, said the replacement of Fire Station 15 at 2124 Roberts Road could start next year.

Martin said the fire station, the oldest of the city’s five stations, doesn’t meet seismic standards, only has one bay for fire apparatus instead of three, and also has “the teeter-totter toilets.”

He proposed ways to pay for the new facility, including using $3 million to $4 million of reserves, $150,000 to $300,000 annually from marijuana taxes and public safety fee increases of up to $1.15 monthly.

A decision on moving forward with a bonding option, similar to a loan, for the fire station will take place at the Thursday, June 20, council meeting.

Martin said dipping into reserves, which are currently $40 million, could cause hardships down the road as Medford faces potential shortfalls in future budget cycles, a situation facing many local governments.

“I recommend not using more than $3 million,” he said.

Also tapping into marijuana taxes to help pay for the station would require a change to the municipal code, Martin said.

In a 2023 master plan, a consulting firm gave Fire Station 15 a “D” rating because of its poor general condition.

Problems with the station include collapsed flooring in one room, water accumulation in the apparatus bay because of a low section, and no engine exhaust fan. The building doesn’t comply with disability requirements, has no individual sleeping quarters and lacks an exercise room.

Fire Station 15 is the smallest of the stations.

The cost estimate to replace the station is based on 2025 dollars. By comparison, Fire Station 13 on Highland Drive next to Bear Creek Park cost $4.8 million in 2015.

Councilor Sarah Spansail expressed support for the only option that didn’t increase fees. The option she preferred would also not dip into reserves, instead relying almost exclusively on marijuana taxes, which amount to about $1 million annually.

Most of the council supported trying to minimize hikes to the public safety fee.

Mayor Randy Sparacino also preferred the marijuana option because local residents have already seen a hike in fees in recent years.

He also supported another option that would take $4 million out of reserves and increase fees 40 cents a month.

Councilor Tim D’Alessandro said he would support taking up to $4 million out of reserves to get the project built, citing the need to maintain public safety.

“First of all, we need to do this, period,” he said.

Councilor Nick Card said he generally prefers having sufficient reserves to deal with unexpected situations.

But replacing an aging fire station is a situation that calls for using those reserves, he said.

“I would have been willing to use more than $4 million,” he said. “These are exactly the kind of projects that I think we should use reserves (for).”

In addition to five fire stations, the Medford Fire Department headquarters is located in the Lausmann Annex next to City Hall.

In 2013, a police, fire and revenue bond, paid for through a public safety fee increase, resulted in the construction of fire stations 12, 13 and 14. Fire Station 16 on Barnett Road in east Medford is 25 years old.