The Edmond Capital Improvements Projects Advisory Board on Oct. 21 approved using proceeds from the 2017 capital improvements sales tax to pay for design services for a new Fire Station 3 and to add funding for construction of a fire department maintenance building.

Deputy Chief Weaver of the Edmond Fire Department described the plan to relocate Station 3 from its current Danforth site to land the city already purchased south of Danforth, and said the department needs a larger footprint to accommodate modern apparatus and avoid backing onto a public road. Weaver said design services for the new station are estimated at $700,000. He also said construction of a maintenance building is estimated at $834,628.92 and that project costs rose beyond the original allocation despite a 50/50 ARPA grant that helped the budget.

Board members and staff explained the reason for using the 2017 tax instead of other CIP funds. Staff told the board that additional grant dollars tied to the Northwest Trail Connector freed up money in the 2017 fund and made it an appropriate source for these fire projects. The board voted to approve both items.

Weaver said the department has the new station budgeted but needs to identify a funding source for the design so reserves do not decline further. He noted the existing Station 3 structure dates to 1984 and lacks the required footprint to allow apparatus to enter and exit safely without blocking public lanes. The maintenance building project will provide additional covered space for large apparatus.

The board approved the funding changes and moved both projects forward; construction and design will proceed through the normal contracting and design-review process with staff oversight. No dates for design completion or construction start were specified in board materials beyond the estimated amounts and funding source change.

Board actions were unanimous on these items; staff said the change in funding source is intended to preserve departmental reserves while staying within priorities approved by voters for the 2017 CIP sales tax.