Reduced-Size New Signal Mountain Fire Station Still Costs $3,669,939; School Study Almost Ready

  • Friday, August 25, 2017
  • Gail Perry
New Signal Mountain Fire Hall
New Signal Mountain Fire Hall

The bid for Signal Mountain’s new fire station was awarded to DBS Corporation at the Friday afternoon meeting of the town council. To adequately serve the community’s growth, several studies recommended the need for an additional fire station. When the building first opens it will be staffed with three firefighters, but the building has been designed to ultimately house two companies, each with three firefighters. It was planned to serve Signal Mountain until the town is fully built out.

 

The approved bid for the building is $2,755,000 and, with the addition of furnishings, equipment and a fire engine, the total cost will be $3,669,939, said Town Manager Boyd Veal. The council originally planned on the total cost being $3 million including all equipment. The cost estimate for the initial design was determined to be too high, so the architect redesigned the building reducing the size from 13,800 to 8,200 square feet and found efficiencies that were believed to bring the cost of the building down to $2 million.

 

Five bids were received for the project with DBS submitting the lowest. After meetings with the architect, engineers and Mr. Veal looking for ways to reduce the cost even more, they decided it could not be done without reducing functionality. Friday, the city manager asked for the council’s approval to move forward with the re-designed building.

 

Mayor Chris Howley recommended voting on the matter at a regular town council with citizens able to participate in the discussion because he said it would be such a huge financial commitment, taking on an additional $900,000 of debt that had not been planned. Mr. Veal responded that he had been actively working on it for months and months and the contractors are ready to begin. Councilperson Amy Speek said that the council would probably vote on it as is, even if they waited two weeks, adding that it must be built. The final vote was three in favor of moving forward. Robert Spalding opposed and Mayor Howley abstained.

 

Mr. Veal said that the work done by DBS is impressive. The company has built multiple Walmarts and Sam’s Clubs and is nearing completion on a $35 million TDOT project. The repeat business speaks to their quality, he said.

 

A TML bond fund loan not to exceed $3 million at the fixed rate of 2.79 percent was approved for expenses related to the fire station.

 

The council discussed finding a way for non-residents of the town to share the cost of maintenance and improvements for facilities they use and activities they participate in. The idea of an all-inclusive fee is being considered. Currently, activities are on a “pay-as-you-go” plan. The proposed card could be available for an individual, a couple or a family with no option of paying for individual services. A card would also serve as a way to track payments.

 

Mayor Howley said that now it is easy to move right outside the town limits and get the same benefits as living in the town without paying. Vice Mayor Dick Gee said that Walden’s tax rate is very low, and now Walden citizens have got the best of both worlds. Council member Speek said the proposal is not about alienating anyone, but how to pay for the amenities. Vice Mayor Gee said the idea is that fees could pay most of the actual costs rather than coming from the town’s taxpayers.

 

At the next agenda meeting, the council will have a list of the fee amounts that the town charges for each activity in order for the council to have a better understanding of actual figures while discussions continue for finding the right amount to charge. The mayor said another possibility would be to enter into an interlocal agreement with Walden, an incorporated area of Hamilton County.

 

The council also approved a study to be done by the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System for around $520. This would determine the town’s liability for paying people who worked for the town prior to it being covered by TCRS. It is estimated that only a few employees would be involved.

 

An update on the school system viability committee (SSVC) was given by Ms. Speek, the council’s liaison to the committee. She said the study is almost complete. Both the Hamilton County School Board and the state of Tennessee have reviewed and verified that the budget created by the committee is valid, with only a few changes. The final report is expected to be ready by the end of September. Mayor Howley said the process once it is complete will be for the council to review and discuss it, followed by public meetings led by the SSVC.

 

The city manager reported that the water project is nearing the point of boring under Ridgeway at Laurel and after that it will move to the South Palisades area. Upgrading the system at James Boulevard to improve fire flow will be done before improving the road. Work also is continuing on the Shoal Creek Bridge project. The city manager is currently interviewing for a new administrative position.

 

A motion passed for the city to deny the request to build a road on the unpaved portion of Carolina Avenue. Residents that live along that section of the road will be allowed to make improvements themselves as long as they all sign a waiver of liability from holding the city responsible for any damage done by city vehicles. If the road that the citizens build meets the town’s standards, the city may accept and maintain it.

 

The next regular meeting of the Signal Mountain town council is Sept. 11. The next council agenda work session will be held Friday, Sept. 29, at noon.

 

 

 

 

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