Springfield Township owns property earmarked for an eventual third fire station, but expansion and renovation of Fire Station #2 is a higher priority, officials said last week.
After some preliminary conceptual work, the township board voted on Feb. 10 to authorize soil borings and a topographical survey at Dixie Highway and Rattalee Lake Road. In addition, the township will hire a consultant to do ‘value engineering? in an attempt to cut the cost from an initial estimate of $1.8 million.
Supervisor Collin Walls said a committee of township board members and fire officers met last October with the CHMP consulting firm on conceptual plans to expand Fire Station #2.
The plan was large and comprehensive, and officials recognized it as too large to be accomplished in one phase or to be completed by a fire department deadline of Dec. 31, 2006.
Walls later said the $1.8 million ‘guesstimate? included additional and expanded bays for fire trucks, space to accommodate the fire department headquarters offices (currently located at Fire Station #1 in downtown Davisburg) and a community/training room.
The priorities, Walls said, must be the apparatus bays, office and storage space.
The contracts approved last week are for work needed to be done regardless of the timetable or scope of the project, Walls said.
Soil borings will be done by Hartley and Associates of Plymouth for no more than $1,900. Officials said the borings will be necessary to help plan for an adequate septic system and a probable water retention basin on the site.
Hubbell, Roth and Clark will provide the topographical survey at a maximum cost of $2,000. The survey will be necessary to complete a future site plan.
Jay Noonan, architect with Design Resources of Clarkston, will earn $75 an hour to review preliminary plans developed by CHMP and suggest a variety of cost-cutting and priority recommendations.
Fire Chief Charlie Oaks later said the conceptual plan was more of a wish list than a set of firm expectations.
‘We really don’t have a plan yet,? Oaks said. ‘We have an idea of what we want, but we’re not far along yet to know what we can afford.?
What is certain, Oaks said, is that the more than 20-year-old Fire Station #2 can no longer adequately house today’s firefighting equipment. There is a lack of adequate work and storage space, and the growth in the Dixie Highway corridor has led to more emergency runs in that area.
‘We have to anticipate the need, and the need is greater in the area of Fire Station #2,? the chief said.
At last week’s meeting, the board also approved a recommendation from Walls to begin setting aside money for the fire hall expansion project.
Income from cable television franchise fees not already earmarked for the public/education/government channel will go into the building and equipment fund in the fire department budget. The same will be done with 10 percent of the township’s state revenue sharing income.
With hopes that the fire department can save about $400,000 over time, Walls anticipates having between $700,000 and $800,000 by 2006 for the fire station project.
‘We still have to borrow some money, but we shouldn’t have to worry about bond elections,? Walls said.
Oaks said the work approved last week will probably not be finished until after spring weather arrives. Then additional plans can be made, he said.