Fire Territory OKs contract for Station 2

September 7, 2019 at 4:53 a.m.


With the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety’s approval Friday of the contract, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory will have Design Collaborative examine and determine the options for repairs of fire station No. 2 on East Center Street.

The contract is for phase I for a cost of $21,172.

Mayor Joe Thallemer prefaced the Board of Works’ discussion on the matter by stating, “We’re having some issues at station 2. Condensation issues that’s causing some issues, not only with the metal building panels but also the structural steel. There’s also some settling issues with the foundation at station 2. It looks like we need to do some structural overhaul with that building.”

He pointed out the fire territory had the same issue with station 1 on Main Street a few years ago. Chief Mike Wilson said he believed it was in 2013-14.

“Fire stations have – obviously, the garage doors are open and closed all times of the year. There’s condensation issues. Salt issues. There’s trying to maintain heat in the building, and then you have cold. By nature, that building kind of is subjected to the extreme elements, and I think it’s showing now,” Thallemer said.

He said the construction of station 3 was “not that type of construction” because it was decided to do a cinder block wall for it. While station 3, like any building, will eventually have some maintenance issues, Thallemer said the investment made in it will prevent “a lot of what’s happening” at stations 1 and 2.

Wilson said the fire territory reached out to city engineer James Emans, who recommended Design Collaborative. He said they’ve already had a couple of meetings with Design Collaborative, who presented to them a three-phase project. The Board of Works and Fire Territory have approved only the first phase at this point.

“They need to come in and pretty well do a site assessment, figure out what needs to be done and be able to create a program that they can come back to the Fire Territory Board and Board of Works with a plan,” Wilson said.

The agreement shows all three phases for the boards to review, but Wilson reiterated they’re only doing phase I at this point.

He said when Design Collaborative comes around, Emans will be present to answer questions on behalf of the city.

Emans told the board, “There’s clearly potential structural deficiencies in the building. So getting an architect group in and the team they’ve got coming in, they will be able to identify any of those potential deficiencies,” Emans said.

The other phases are how to fix those deficiencies cost effectively, he said.

“Somebody has got to do a whole-scale investigation just to understand the shape the building is in right now and that’s what this part is,” Emans said.

George Clemens, board member, asked how old fire station 2 was. Wilson said it was built in the mid-1970s and believed it was occupied in 1978.

Councilman Jeff Grose, board member, asked about the $1.5 million figure in the full agreement.

“That’s just a scientific guess on what (the full repairs could cost),” Wilson responded. “Nothing (set in stone).”

Grose said that potential figure was a big number to him.

Wilson reminded him the $21,172 was just “a footprint to get what’s wrong and what needs to be fixed so we can make a decision on what way to go.”

Thallemer said the Fire Territory board had a fairly significant discussion on the contract and were unanimous in it.

Wilson said there are no plans to move the location of the fire station.

The Board of Works unanimously approved the contract with Design Collaborative for $21,172.

In other business, the board approved:

• The closure of Canal Street from North Indiana to the Central Park east parking lots and North Indiana Street north of Canal Street to Buffalo Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. today for Family Safety Day. The event is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• The closure of Canal Street between the parking lot entrances from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday for the 9/11 Memorial Remembrance Ceremony, which will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

• The closure of a block of Indiana Street between Center and Canal streets from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 21 for the Lincolnway Cubmobile races as requested by the Anthony Wayne Area Council Boy Scouts of America.

• The closure of the southern most portion of Laurelwood Drive in Park Ridge Subdivision from 3 to 9 p.m. Sept. 28 for the Park Ridge Association block party.

With the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety’s approval Friday of the contract, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory will have Design Collaborative examine and determine the options for repairs of fire station No. 2 on East Center Street.

The contract is for phase I for a cost of $21,172.

Mayor Joe Thallemer prefaced the Board of Works’ discussion on the matter by stating, “We’re having some issues at station 2. Condensation issues that’s causing some issues, not only with the metal building panels but also the structural steel. There’s also some settling issues with the foundation at station 2. It looks like we need to do some structural overhaul with that building.”

He pointed out the fire territory had the same issue with station 1 on Main Street a few years ago. Chief Mike Wilson said he believed it was in 2013-14.

“Fire stations have – obviously, the garage doors are open and closed all times of the year. There’s condensation issues. Salt issues. There’s trying to maintain heat in the building, and then you have cold. By nature, that building kind of is subjected to the extreme elements, and I think it’s showing now,” Thallemer said.

He said the construction of station 3 was “not that type of construction” because it was decided to do a cinder block wall for it. While station 3, like any building, will eventually have some maintenance issues, Thallemer said the investment made in it will prevent “a lot of what’s happening” at stations 1 and 2.

Wilson said the fire territory reached out to city engineer James Emans, who recommended Design Collaborative. He said they’ve already had a couple of meetings with Design Collaborative, who presented to them a three-phase project. The Board of Works and Fire Territory have approved only the first phase at this point.

“They need to come in and pretty well do a site assessment, figure out what needs to be done and be able to create a program that they can come back to the Fire Territory Board and Board of Works with a plan,” Wilson said.

The agreement shows all three phases for the boards to review, but Wilson reiterated they’re only doing phase I at this point.

He said when Design Collaborative comes around, Emans will be present to answer questions on behalf of the city.

Emans told the board, “There’s clearly potential structural deficiencies in the building. So getting an architect group in and the team they’ve got coming in, they will be able to identify any of those potential deficiencies,” Emans said.

The other phases are how to fix those deficiencies cost effectively, he said.

“Somebody has got to do a whole-scale investigation just to understand the shape the building is in right now and that’s what this part is,” Emans said.

George Clemens, board member, asked how old fire station 2 was. Wilson said it was built in the mid-1970s and believed it was occupied in 1978.

Councilman Jeff Grose, board member, asked about the $1.5 million figure in the full agreement.

“That’s just a scientific guess on what (the full repairs could cost),” Wilson responded. “Nothing (set in stone).”

Grose said that potential figure was a big number to him.

Wilson reminded him the $21,172 was just “a footprint to get what’s wrong and what needs to be fixed so we can make a decision on what way to go.”

Thallemer said the Fire Territory board had a fairly significant discussion on the contract and were unanimous in it.

Wilson said there are no plans to move the location of the fire station.

The Board of Works unanimously approved the contract with Design Collaborative for $21,172.

In other business, the board approved:

• The closure of Canal Street from North Indiana to the Central Park east parking lots and North Indiana Street north of Canal Street to Buffalo Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. today for Family Safety Day. The event is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• The closure of Canal Street between the parking lot entrances from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday for the 9/11 Memorial Remembrance Ceremony, which will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

• The closure of a block of Indiana Street between Center and Canal streets from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 21 for the Lincolnway Cubmobile races as requested by the Anthony Wayne Area Council Boy Scouts of America.

• The closure of the southern most portion of Laurelwood Drive in Park Ridge Subdivision from 3 to 9 p.m. Sept. 28 for the Park Ridge Association block party.
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