Aransas Pass council drops new-build GMP, directs study of renovating existing firehouse and adding living quarters

The Aransas Pass City Council on Monday declined to approve a guaranteed maximum price for a combined new fire station and police department renovation and instead voted to direct staff to explore renovating the existing fire station to house the police department and to add new living quarters to the west side of the fire engine bay.

Council members had been considering a construction manager-at-risk guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $13,509,563 from Weaver|Jacobs for both projects. Staff reported the total project cost including allowances and design fees would reach about $15.13 million; the standalone construction cost for the proposed new fire station was listed at about $9.59 million.

The vote followed more than two hours of public comment and discussion. Council members and residents raised concerns about the city's overall debt load, loss of funds available for street repairs, and whether renovation of existing facilities would be a lower-cost alternative. Several speakers also asked for detailed cost breakdowns from the construction manager at risk and for time to review separate pricing if the council chose to pursue…