Council authorizes engineering work for temporary Station 16 site as town prepares to take over fire services

The Town Council on Aug. 7 authorized staff to begin engineering and permitting for a temporary fire station that would keep coverage in the Station 16 response area while Jupiter finalizes its transition from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. The item passed unanimously.

Town leaders said the town requested a 90-day transition with the county when the change was negotiated, but county timelines and the prospect of equipment removal at midnight on Oct. 1 made a temporary facility a prudent contingency. "We have a fire department to run and we have calls that are going to come in and we're going to respond," Fire Chief Daryl Donato told the council, adding the town has secured a Cat-5-rated station previously used by another local department.

Councilors and nearby homeowners asked about transparency and neighborhood outreach. Town Manager Frank Kitzaro and Chief Donato said they had already met with affected homeowners associations and local school officials; one HOA offered to make a clubhouse available during the temporary station's deployment. Donato said the town does not yet know the full condition of Station 16 or which equipment the county will remove during turnover; that uncertainty is a key reason the town moved now to begin permits and engineering so it can be ready "no matter what." The chief said the temporary station likely would not be moved into place until the March-April timeframe in the following year unless circumstances require earlier occupancy.

Why it matters: the town must assure 911 response continuity on the day of turnover. Councilors emphasized public safety and said they preferred to secure continuity in advance rather than risk gaps in coverage.

Ending: Staff will proceed with engineering and permitting work and return to council with planning, design and neighbor-notification details as they are developed.