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Firefighters tell Germantown trustees Station 2 is unsafe as costs spike; board calls for tighter oversight
Summary
Germantown firefighters described mold, pest infestations, inadequate sleeping quarters and diesel exposure at Station 2 and urged a comprehensive fix rather than a short-term remodel; staff and trustees disclosed new cost pressure including $2.5M for mold remediation and 32% higher construction estimates.
Members of Germantown Firefighters Local 4854 told the village board they are living and working in unsafe conditions at Station 2 and urged the board to prioritize a comprehensive solution rather than a temporary "band-aid" remodel.
A department representative identified in the record as Victoria summarized years of deferred maintenance and said the current $6.5 million remodeling allocation is inadequate to resolve mold, HVAC and pest issues and the department's critical space needs. "A healthy clean station is not a want. It is a basic occupational safety need for personnel serving in our village," she said, describing inadequate dorm space, HVAC systems that force exhaust into living areas, station-wide mold and rodent infestations and staff office space located in the apparatus bay.
Trustees asked staff and the chief for updated cost information. Fire Chief Delane and the project architect said that recent further assessment identified additional remediation needs: mold remediation alone could add about $2.5 million, and construction management/architect costs have come in roughly 32% higher than earlier estimates. Chief Delane noted that adding bays or increasing scope would add additional millions.
Trustees and staff agreed to return the project to building oversight and to ask the public safety committee to accelerate planning for a second fire station so the village can better anticipate longer-term capital needs. Administrator Reynolds said staff will work to secure a construction manager and to keep any project within the budget the board ultimately authorizes.
Several trustees emphasized the urgency of improving conditions for firefighters while also acknowledging residents' concerns about cost and scope. The board did not take a final vote on additional funding at this meeting and asked staff to report back with refined estimates and a plan for transparent oversight.
