Council approves purchase of 2.23 acres for new Fire Station 14 after debate over wetlands and mitigation

The City Council approved a purchase agreement for approximately 2.23 acres to site a relocated Fire Station 14, in a 4‑2 roll call that followed extended questioning about environmental mitigation and contingency protections.

Fire Chief Trace McMillan described the parcel as the optimal location to reduce response times near the I‑75 corridor and said the city’s capital improvement program has funds allotted for the land. Chief McMillan said the negotiated purchase price was $1,800,000 with $1,200,000 paid upfront and $600,000 held in escrow tied to developer performance; he said the developer (Harry Chapin) would perform mitigation, road and utility work as part of the agreement.

Councilmembers pressed staff on worst‑case scenarios if the seller did not complete mitigation. One council member said mitigation on nearby properties had been as high as multimillion‑dollar figures and argued the city should not absorb large unknown environmental costs. City staff and the seller’s representative said mitigation credits and site work arrangements reduce that risk and that the escrow structure limits city exposure.

A motion to approve the purchase carried on roll call (Yes: Bonk, Mayor Anderson, Watkins Brown, Bochette; No: Geraldo, Berson). Chief McMillan and staff said the transaction is intended to yield a centrally located, 50‑year fire facility with improved redundancy for utilities and faster access to high‑acuity incidents on I‑75.