Archive: Around Town

Fire Commissioner Jeff Walters reported that a 2.3 million addition and renovation of Lansing Central Fire Station continues to be delayed by incomplete paperwork and red tape.  Walters says the project, which was approved by voters last September, is now waiting for the district's attorney to review the first part of the contract, and for a letter from the Town of Lansing.

Originally district officials hoped to put the project out to bid in January.  By March frustrated Fire Commissioners said they hoped construction could start on July 1st.  But on Tuesday Walters said he has told the architect that he wants the project to go out to bid no later than the first week of October.

Walters says the architect is waiting for a letter from the Town of Lansing that confirms they approve of a three inch rise in the bay floor, which could be a challenge for handicapped people.  Meanwhile, the contract is being reviewed before the project can go to bid.

While waiting for the plans, Walters is talking to two companies that may act as 'Clerk of the Works,' a person who oversees the project from beginning to end.  That individual checks plans for errors, and oversees the actual work, making sure contractors are doing the work according to the plans and specifications agreed upon.  But only one, Watchdog Management Company, has submitted a bid.

Walters recommended signing with that company.  He said they offered to charge weekly for the beginning and end pieces so that the district isn't stuck in a nine month contract when the project will probably only take about six months.  He said that of the district hires them now they can be checking the plans for errors that could impact the contractor bids and help prevent overages later.

The project includes an additional equipment bay for emergency response vehicles, a decontamination room, and a men's and women's bunker wing.  Two of the three pieces of the current facility do not meet building code.  The first is the absence of a decontamination facility.  Equipment exposed to chemicals or blood during a 911 call are currently decontaminated in an equipment bay (the large garage space that holds fire engines) or the station's kitchen where emergency responders make coffee and food.  The bunker facility also violates current building code, preventing the fire department from housing live-in emergency responders.

Fire Commissioners say that a mild winter could make up for some lost time, but with the bidding delay it will be up to the contractor they hire to decide whether construction will start before winter or next spring.

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