Ocean Shores staff: Clouthland Fire Station on schedule; council to review exhaust-system bid

Becky, a staff member, told the Ocean Shores Public Works Committee that construction of the Clouthland Fire Station is moving "right along" and is expected to be complete toward the end of the year. She said the city still needs proposals for gutters and flooring; the general contractor will provide a cost to install the flooring, and the city plans to purchase the flooring material to avoid a contractor markup.

The committee was told a proposal to install a PlimaVent vehicle-exhaust system at the new station will be presented to the City Council at its next meeting. Becky said the system "has to be the same system because the tailpipes have been retrofitted to work with the exhaust hookup," and staff received a vendor estimate that the work would cost roughly in the tens of thousands of dollars. She said council will be asked for direction on which budget to use to pay for that work.

Committee members asked about current system performance and use; Becky said she had "not had any complaints or concerns" and that firefighters are using the existing system. The committee also discussed furnishings and equipment for the station. Becky said the building purchase and major construction costs are being paid from the capital facilities plan, but that she did not believe furnishings and fitness equipment were appropriate capital-facilities expenditures and that the council would need to identify another funding source when those purchases are required.

The committee heard that staff will meet with the fire department this week to discuss furnishing needs and that the city has recorded several invoices to date and remains within the current capital budget for construction.

No formal motion or vote was recorded during the committee update.