Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Fire Station 10 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Columbia council approves renovations at future site of Fire Station No. 10
Summary
City Council authorized staff to proceed with roughly $2.5 million in renovations to convert a former church at 1020 South El Chaparral Avenue into interim office space and a temporary fire station; work will be funded from capital improvement sales tax funds and proceed to bid.
Columbia City Council on Monday authorized staff to proceed with renovations to the existing building at 1020 South El Chaparral Avenue to provide office space for the fire marshal and temporary facilities for Fire Station No. 10.
Shane Creech, director of public works, told the council the city purchased the two‑story, approximately 7,500‑square‑foot former church in June 2023 and plans to convert the upper level to administrative offices and the lower level into a temporary station while a permanent station is planned. "This initial project is estimated to cost approximately 2 and a half million dollars and will be funded with the existing capital improvement sales tax funds," Creech said.
The council opened a public hearing before taking action. Fire Department leadership, represented at the meeting by the fire chief, described service gaps in the east central corridor that the interim station is intended to address. The fire chief said the area is "under‑served" and stressed response time as critical: "Response time is important. It is critical. If anybody can hold their breath more than a minute or two, it will reinforce that level of importance to all of us...it requires people, it requires training and it requires us to be in those neighborhoods." The chief added the volunteer station across the street is not staffed and has no city jurisdiction.
A council motion to authorize staff to proceed with construction was seconded and approved by voice vote. Councilmembers did not record a roll‑call tally in the minutes for that vote.
Staff said the work will include an apparatus addition and pavement to handle fire truck turning and weight; the renovation is expected to be put out for bid shortly and, if bids and construction proceed as planned, staff estimated occupancy could occur in the fall construction season. Creech said the permanent station would be proposed in the first year of a future capital improvement sales tax program.
The council approved the measure and moved on to other business.
