River Falls council approves bid for new fire station, OKs three alternates including fifth apparatus bay

The River Falls City Council voted on Sept. 23 to award a construction contract for a new fire station and approved three alternates that add a fifth apparatus bay, a new roof for the remodeled portion of the facility and a health-and-wellness/fitness room.

Fire Chief Justin Wilson told the council the lowest base bid — submitted by BCI Construction — was $8,300,000. Wilson described the project as both a health-and-safety upgrade for firefighters (including improved exhaust systems and separate gear lockers) and an operational efficiency improvement that will allow apparatus to exit more quickly. “This building gives us potential for growth,” Wilson said, noting the project was developed with input from World Architects and multiple departmental user groups.

Wilson said the city plans to combine the base bid and alternate 1 (a fifth bay) in the financing recommendation and that the project includes a secured USDA grant of $1,400,000. He also said the city’s rural contract would contribute roughly $241,500 per year toward debt service. The overall project budget discussed at the meeting used a roughly $10,000,000 planning figure; staff noted a contingency line and FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) in the estimate.

Council discussion centered on whether to include the three alternates now or defer any to a later date. One councilmember urged approval of all three alternates, saying doing so would avoid higher costs later; another emphasized the project’s long-term financial prudence. The council moved and seconded a motion to approve the award with alternates 1, 2 and 3. The motion was approved by voice vote; council members did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes provided.

The package presented to council lists the base bid scope as demolition of the older portion of the current public-safety building and new construction for apparatus bays, a three-story tower with a hose-drying/training tower, gear-washing areas, a larger training room and improved communications infrastructure including new fiber. Wilson described design features intended to reduce exposures to contaminants for firefighters and to provide a three-story hose tower for drying and training rather than an electric hose dryer.

The council also discussed public art for the site. Staff said the project packet included a proposed $80,000 public-art commission under the city’s River Falls Creates policy; staff advised that the current policy is intended for a public-art commission tied to the project site rather than architectural elements of the building itself. The council asked that a representative from the fire department be included in the River Falls Creates process for this commission. A member of the public, Benjamin Box, had urged completion of a previously proposed police-station art project and expressed concern about reductions to public art in the fire-station bid, saying, “I would hope that the police station art project gets done, and I hope that it is part of the — I think it's a $6,000 reduction in the fire station.”

Staff noted several funding sources under consideration (borrowing, cash financing and the USDA grant) and a contingency amount in the project estimate. Wilson recommended awarding the contract and moving into execution with the selected contractor; the council approved the motion by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the motion to award the construction contract to the low bidder and to include alternates 1, 2 and 3; the meeting record shows a voice vote with the mayor calling for “Aye” and no roll-call tally provided in the transcript excerpt.