Northfield council authorizes updated fire station plans and accepts $51,000 FEMA grant

Council authorized the village to move forward with updated plans and a second bid process for the Fire Station Expansion and Renovation Project and accepted a FEMA Health and Wellness grant at its Aug. 24 meeting.

Fire Chief Jason Buss described the proposed project and the need to reopen bidding with Phase I and Phase II alternate bid options. Councilmember Gary Vojtush moved, and Renell Noack seconded, a motion authorizing up to $18,000 in additional design fees to Baker Bednar Snyder to update the project plans and prepare for a new bid process with alternate phasing. The motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.

Chief Buss also reported that the Village was awarded a $51,000 FEMA Health and Wellness grant with a 95%/5% cost share. Council approved a motion, moved by Mr. Vojtush and seconded by Mr. Ferko, authorizing the Mayor, Finance Director or Fire Chief to accept the grant and to execute necessary documents; the Village’s 5% share of $2,428.58 will not be due until sometime in 2023. The motion passed unanimously.

Chief Buss said the department’s new fire engine is now in service and the old engine was delivered to the Auburn Career Center. He and Service Superintendent Jason Walters discussed erecting a new steel structure on the Fire Station property to shelter an ambulance that no longer fits inside the station; Walters estimated the combined cost for a concrete pad and a roughly 12-by-30-foot metal building at about $20,000–$30,000 and said procuring a building would take about a month plus lead time for concrete work. Walters intends to present full cost and schedule information at the next council meeting.

The council’s votes authorize staff to proceed with updated design work and grant acceptance paperwork; further contract awards and construction scheduling will follow required bid results and funding approvals.