Wasatch County fire board approves $1.92 million in warrants as chief reports FAA-related delay and added station costs

The Wasatch County Fire Protection Special Service District board approved $1,923,103.09 in warrants at its Sept. 10 meeting after a staff update on construction at the district’s new station.

Fire Chief (name not specified in the transcript) told the board that the station project is currently projected at about $15,300,000 and that recent delays tied to FAA permitting have added roughly $220,000 in direct costs. "They said they were gonna take 45 days, and they took all their 45," the chief said, describing an FAA review that paused critical-path work. He added that the FAA’s subsequent findings cleared the project: "We're okay," he said.

The chief described ongoing site work: pavement on 12 South and 160 East, curb-and-gutter work, truss erection and sheeting, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-ins. He told the board that footings and the foundation for an accessory building remain a constraint and that crane restrictions tied to the FAA response required more lifts and added time.

Staff also described other change orders: architectural adjustments that incurred about $7,500 in design costs but produced an estimated $60,000–$70,000 saving in steel, and a projection that the project is roughly $300,000 over earlier cost estimates though "not over budget yet," according to the chief.

On a motion by Eric and second by Mark, the board approved the warrants as presented. No alternate vote totals were recorded beyond the board voice vote of 'Aye.'

The chief said the district is completing equipment installs for a new paging and notification system and expects a switchover around Oct. 1. He thanked the sheriff’s office for coordination on the communications work. The board took no further action on project funding at the meeting; staff indicated they will continue to track change orders and discuss next steps with the city and contractors as needed.