The Kenner City Council unanimously approved an amendment on Jan. 24 that sets a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $5,384,123 for construction of Fire Station 38.

City project staff said the station will be a single-story, three-bay facility of roughly 9,600 square feet, will include a 200-kW generator and was designed to exceed code wind-load requirements (roughly 150–155 mph). Under the construction-management-at-risk (CMAR) approach used for the project, the contractor and design team worked together during design and submitted a guaranteed price that includes roughly $304,000 in allowances for items such as site utilities and landscaping.

"That $5,384,123 is the guaranteed maximum price that we'll pay for it," Kenner Fire Chief Morris said after staff explained the amendment. Chief Morris said the city received approximately $3.5 million from the state to help fund the project; remaining funding will come from the recently approved fire millage and anticipated general-fund allocations. City staff said roughly $800,000 of the state allocation remains available for construction.

Staff described the 16-month construction schedule (weather permitting) and said, with the ordinance adopted, they expected to begin construction in March 2025. The station site was relocated from its former location near Loyola Drive because of airport ingress/egress improvements; the new site is on Duke Street.

Under the CMAR procurement method, the contractor (Gibbs Construction LLC) will deliver the project for the GMP unless unexpected, defined conditions arise; allowances in the GMP may be unused and would reduce the final price. Councilmember Brennan moved and Councilmember McKenney seconded the amendment; both the amendment and the ordinance as amended passed 6-0.

City officials said the station will expand the department’s response capacity and will be built to modern standards for resilience and emergency operations.