Oak Grove Council Votes 3-2 to Add Brick to Fire Station Apparatus Bay, Rejects Full Backside Option

The Oak Grove City Council voted 3-2 to add thin brick to the apparatus bay (the overhead door area) of the City Hall Fire Station at an estimated cost of about $31,000. The council rejected a motion to add brick to the entire rear elevation, which staff estimated would cost about $84,000.

Council discussion focused on cost, aesthetics, and procurement mechanics. Randy, a city staff/project representative, told the council that the full back elevation would cost about $84,000 and that the fire‑station portion alone was estimated at $30,000 to $40,000. Randy said the precast manufacturer had initially offered a gift (a discount) but that because the city had previously accepted a deduct during bidding, restoring the brick would require a change order and the contractor indicated the manufacturer’s gift would not be carried through; the change order therefore would produce a direct cost to the city.

Mayor Weston moved to add brick only to the apparatus bay for roughly $31,000; Mike Wiley seconded. The recorded vote on that motion was: Angie Bray Johnson — no; John West — no; Mike Wiley — yes; Paul Tradewell — yes; Mayor Weston — yes. The motion passed 3‑2.

Council members also considered other options during the meeting. Council member John West had earlier made a motion to leave the rear elevation as bid (no additional brick), which was seconded; that motion did not carry as subsequent votes produced different results. Council member Mike Wiley later moved to add brick to the entire back elevation at an $84,000 cost; that motion failed. Council members repeatedly noted that the project is funded with bond proceeds and not from the city’s levy, and staff advised that remaining bond proceeds are allocated to the building project (bond rules limit how leftover proceeds may be used).

Key figures and estimates discussed in the meeting included: the full back elevation alternate (originally estimated at about $80,000 in earlier bids), a staff estimate of $84,000 to do the whole backside, a separate estimate for just the apparatus bay in the $30,000–$40,000 range, and a specific contractor estimate of $31,200 supplied by Kiki Contractors (as reported by staff). Staff also reminded the council that the project included soft‑cost estimates (previously up to $2,100,000) and a 10% contingency; current soft‑cost estimates discussed in the meeting were about $1,800,000.

Aesthetic and long‑term planning concerns surfaced in the debate. John West said he wanted to be on record opposing the full backside brick so he could later note he warned against it: "I am going on record to say... in 20 years, when we look at the back and we don't like it, I can remember I can say, I told them not to do that." Other members said a partial brick application could look better than no brick on the rear, but those members who opposed the partial option cited cost and uncertain soft‑cost contingencies as reasons to decline.

Action summary (three council motions recorded during the item): • Motion by Council member John West (seconded by Council member Angie Bray Johnson): leave the rear elevation as bid (no additional brick). Vote: Angie Bray Johnson — yes; John West — yes; Mike Wiley — no; Paul Tradewell — no; Mayor Weston — no. Outcome: failed to carry as subsequent motions were made. • Motion by Council member Mike Wiley (seconded by Paul Tradewell): add brick to entire backside at approximately $84,000. Outcome: motion failed on roll call (vote 2‑3). • Motion by Mayor Weston (seconded by Mike Wiley): add brick to the apparatus bay only (estimated $31,000). Vote: Angie Bray Johnson — no; John West — no; Mike Wiley — yes; Paul Tradewell — yes; Mayor Weston — yes. Outcome: approved, 3‑2.

The council did not specify a separate funding source beyond the project’s bond proceeds; staff reiterated that the building project is paid for with bond proceeds and that leftover bond funds must be used consistent with bond terms. The council closed the item and proceeded to other business.