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Crosby trustees confront escalating firehouse costs and approve $100,000 transfer
Summary
After months of permit delays and code-driven change orders, trustees were told the firehouse renovation that began with a ~$785,000 low bid now risks exceeding $1 million; they approved transferring $100,000 into the buildings fund and authorized additional work to finish a temporary-occupancy path.
Trustees on Oct. 13 heard trustees and consultants describe a series of code changes, permit delays and change orders that have driven up the cost of the township’s firehouse renovation from an original low bid of about $785,000 to a figure the board said now threatens to exceed $1,000,000.
A consultant working on the project explained that county flood-plain determinations required added waterproofing and that subsequent county and code requirements — including higher insulation standards and three-hour fire doors for some openings — created unanticipated costs and schedule delays. He told the trustees that some items were eligible for temporary occupancy while longer-lead items (three-hour-rated fire doors) are delivered.
Trustees discussed alternatives including building a new station — which one trustee estimated would cost upward of $3 million to $4 million — but said the township’s current financial and audit status prevents borrowing for a new facility. To keep the project moving, the board voted to transfer $100,000 from the general fund into the building account to cover anticipated change orders and to keep contractors working toward occupancy.
Trustees also approved smaller, related expenditures: they approved up to $8,500 to remodel part of the zoning office into an administrator’s office and discussed temporary measures such as renting portable air-conditioning to maintain habitability during interior work.
Board members asked the consultant and the architect to obtain required county approvals and to certify any fire-retardant materials meet required three-hour ratings before final acceptance. The board will review additional invoices and change orders as they arrive.
