Board approves $8.053 million construction contract for IFD Station 20; groundbreaking set for April 16

The Board of the Office of Public Health and Safety on March 5 approved a building construction services agreement for IFD Station 20 with the lowest responsive bidder at a lump sum of $8,053,000.

Jared Huff, presenting the item, said five bids were received ranging from $8,053,000 to $9,559,000 and that the project was budgeted at $8,500,000. "We did have 8,500,000 budgeted, so it did come in under budget, which is great," Huff said. The contract includes an alternate bid for cast masonry stone versus natural stone; the fire chief will select finishes and samples later in the process.

Huff told the board the new station's address will be listed as 1330; the site spans about 11 properties south of the current station near 16th and Emerson. If approved, the contractor would receive a notice to proceed April 1 and would have 480 days for substantial completion. A ceremonial groundbreaking with the mayor's office and the fire chief is scheduled for April 16.

Board members asked about funding; Huff said the bulk of the cost will come from the bond fund (about $6.5 million) with the remainder from the capital development fund. He said he would provide a breakdown of funding sources to the board for the next firehouse item. The chair moved approval; the motion was seconded and the board approved the agreement by voice vote.

The board recorded the item as approved; no numeric roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.