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Committee approves $5.99 million contract for Brainerd fire station renovation
Summary
The Safety and Public Works Committee approved a $5,994,282.76 construction contract with Northland Construction for a remodel and addition to the Brainerd fire station, citing deferred maintenance and upgrades that officials said will extend the facility’s useful life.
Brainerd — The Safety and Public Works Committee on Tuesday approved a construction contract with Northland Construction for the Brainerd fire station renovation, totaling $5,994,282.76.
The project, which moved from design into final pricing after Widseth completed construction documents on Feb. 27, 2026, covers a remodel and addition that officials said addresses deferred maintenance and upgrades to make the station operable for the next 30 to 40 years. The package includes a 3% contingency and the previously approved design and construction services contract with Widseth.
“We have integrated important deferred maintenance items such as roof replacement, exterior windows, soffits, and an outdated generator into this project,” Fire Chief Holmes told the committee, saying addressing those needs now is more cost‑effective than staging standalone projects later.
Mike Anglin, architect at Widseth, said the design team worked closely with local subcontractors who have experience on the building to finalize a definitive scope and construction sequence. “We’ve been able to look at some of the low voltage infrastructure and how we could best equip this building for a lot of years to come,” Anglin said.
Scott Whitmer of Northland described market pressures that affected pricing. Committee members were told the final price reflects scope changes intended to increase long‑term utility and to absorb recent material cost increases; staff cited an 8% rise in steel during the first quarter of 2026 and notable increases in copper prices over the prior six months.
Committee members asked for a clearer breakdown of the roughly $500,000 increase from earlier estimates and for warranty details. Northland agreed to provide warranty and breakout information to staff after the meeting.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the contract; roll call was recorded as Chizak: yes, Yaeger: yes, Erickson: yes. The item will appear on the full council agenda for final action and further discussion, where staff expects to present additional cost details and warranty documentation.
The committee chair said the council will be given time on the main agenda for additional questions and to review the bid package before final approval.
