New station is on ‘fire’

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — The Worthington City Council made more strides toward the construction of a new fire station at its Tuesday night meeting, approving contracts with a project architect and construction oversight organization.

The aldermen approved Buetow and Associates, St. Paul, to provide architectural and engineering services for a new fire station in the amount of $175,000 plus additional expenses.

Having an architect to make decisions about color and other details is important, Alderman Ron Wood said.

“In house, we don’t have 20 different experts that (the architects) might only use for 10 hours and we would have to contract with,” he said.

“You’re spending the money, but you’re actually saving in the overall scheme of things by having it done right the first time,” added City Administrator Craig Clark.

The council also approved a Project and Construction Inspection Oversight Agreement with Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership for construction oversight of a new fire station in the amount of $25,000.

“We will be there to make sure that what was talked about with the architects and engineers is actually put into place during the construction,” explained Jorge Lopez, director of the housing partnership. “I have staff nearby who will be watching this project. If there’s any problem that the council or the staff has, we will be there to solve that problem.”

In other business, the council:

* Accepted a professional services proposal for development of an environmental plan required for redevelopment of the former Campbell Soup site as a new fire station from Peer Engineering Inc.

* Approved proposed assessments for paving, sanitary sewer and water main improvements. No one attended the public hearing preceding the vote.

* Hosted a public hearing on proposed amendments to a Capital Improvements Plan, and authorized the issuance of $1.9 million in General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan Bonds to reimburse for construction costs incurred in 2009 and 2010. The measure is expected to save the city about $69,000.

* Accepted the 2011 Storm Sewer Fund Budget and amended storm water utility rates. The annual rate increase for residential property is about $7 per acre.

* Approved Prairie View Golf Links fees for 2011 as presented by the Golf Advisory Board with a few changes to rates for season pass renewal. The vote was split, with Mayor Alan Oberloh voting for the second time in eight years to tip the vote toward approval.

* Accepted a request by JBS to annex 20.57 acres of land adjoining the eastern side of the current facility for expansion of JBS Worthington operation.

Tags: city council, fire station, city of worthington, news, fire, station, worthington