Milford council and fire district outline plan to share old fire station; city to buy Connex for fireworks storage

Milford City Council members and representatives of Beaver County Fire District No. 2 discussed options on March 18 for shared use of the old fire station building and how to store city equipment, the Mini X sweeper, and fireworks and lighting used for community events.

Fire District Chief Les, who also sits on the city council, described current uses of the bays: fireworks and pyrotechnic equipment, a trailer containing hazardous-material supplies he valued at about $85,000, and Christmas lights. City staff and council members reviewed building needs and preliminary cost estimates for replacing bay doors, refurbishing asphalt and building a new metal structure.

Mayor Davis and staff presented rough cost estimates for building a replacement metal structure sized about 50-by-40 feet: material costs estimated between $39,000 and $50,000, with concrete, insulation, bay doors, openers, windows and utilities bringing total hard costs into the roughly $117,000–$118,000 range before contractor markup; including contingency and contractor fees, the mayor estimated an overall project in the “neighborhood of about $220,000–$226,000.” The city also obtained measurements and a bid to replace four large bay doors and one man door at an estimated $16,238 and a Spencer Asphalt estimate to refurbish the parking lot for $24,000 (full replacement $40,000–$50,000).

Council and fire district staff agreed on an interim plan to avoid buying a full new building this year: the city will obtain Connex (shipping) containers for secure, off-the-shelf storage. Council members agreed to order one 20-foot Connex for delivery by July 1 to store fireworks and related equipment ahead of the Fourth of July event and to place a second Connex as a budget wish-list item if needed. Council members discussed siting options (south of the well house or near the dumpster/parking area) and agreed to verify zoning setbacks and placement before finalizing location.

On the issue of a formal tenancy arrangement, staff reviewed lease history dating to 1988 (one-year lease), 1990 (5-year lease to 1995) and a 1999 agreement that ran to 2009. The council directed staff to draft a joint-use agreement that would identify which bays each party will use, list stored items, and specify that Milford City would maintain utilities and fund improvements while the fire district would retain limited storage and continue to provide community services (including fireworks). Council members discussed a long-term term of years (for example 40 years) rather than a 99-year lease to avoid lapses.

Council placed larger structural work — replacing bay doors, repairing asphalt, siding/soffit work and possible painting or stucco — on the budget wish list for the fiscal year beginning in July and asked staff to solicit bids for siding and soffit so the council would have estimates when preparing the tentative budget. Fire District Chief Les agreed to vacate the middle bay and the hazmat bay to provide immediate city access; the fire district will keep lights and gear in a western bay. The council and fire district agreed to continue coordinating on a draft agreement and on the timing for Connex placement.