Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Fire station bid accepted

Bids were accepted for a fire station/parks department building on the east side of Prescott, but not without considerable discussion.

James Roy Cornelius, a member of the Prescott City Council, argued in favor of tabling deciding at the Jan. 19 meeting, and possibly rebidding the project to see if the city could get a better price than the low bid of $140,900.

However, as Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office said, after meeting with the contractor in question, there were enough changes made to reduce the price to $132,700  a price the city could afford.

Chadwell said the council had allocated $110,000 from the 2001 sales tax for the building, and approved $25,000 in this year's budget for interior work on the station. But, by using the funds for interior work on the building, there is enough money to get the structure built.

The contractor, according to Chadwell, said the city could save an additional $10,000 by going with two-foot footings at the corners, instead of the four-foot footings the engineer recommended. However, the council agreed the four-foot footings were necessary because of the building's proximity to the railroad tracks and subsequent vibrations, along with the weight of a fully loaded firetruck.

Chadwell said the decision was up to the council, and the project could be rebid. He added, the current bid was good for 60 days, and would expire the day after the February council meeting, should the panel choose to wait.

The plans were changed for the fire station portion, getting rid of roll-type doors and opting for sectional doors. The doors for the fire department side will be automatic.

In addition, Chadwell said, the project could reduce the amount of structural steel the building calls for. The building specs call for the steel to be able to handle an overhead crane, and, as there won't be such equipment in it, the extra steel isn't needed.

The only thing that would be in the ceiling area, Chadwell said, would be an overhead heating unit. The engineer suggested not installing a central heating and cooling unit, opting, instead, for window-type units for the offices on both sides.

A total of 12 bid packets were sent out to interested construction companies, with eight responding, Chadwell said. "I'm not confident we'd get a better price if we rebid. If we rebid, we could get fewer bids and it cost more."

The current low bid, from Construction Services of El Dorado, includes roughed in plumbing. The city would have to hire a licensed plumber to finish this portion out, but the city's electrical crew could do the electric part to help save money.

"The firemen aren't concerned about office space," Chadwell said. "They would rather get the building now and do the rest later."

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said the city council has been working on this project for two years and this is as close the city's got to making it a reality. "I'd hate to keep postponing it."

Chadwell pointed out it will be midway through the year before the building would be completed, and sales tax money could be used to finish the interior. "This could be done six or seven months after the building is up," he said.

"There are several places we can look for money toward the end of the year. There are funds in the economic development budget for two buildings the city owns for prospects, and we may be able to use it."

After debate by the council, the vote was 7-1 in favor of accepting the bid. Cornelius was the lone negative vote.