Engineers are continuing to look at changes to plans for Ironton’s new fire station as city council and the mayor try to get the project in line with the city’s budget.

Tuesday, October 31, 2000

Engineers are continuing to look at changes to plans for Ironton’s new fire station as city council and the mayor try to get the project in line with the city’s budget.

In several meetings with architects within the past several months, city officials examined the possibility of using pre-engineered steel beams and a sculptured block in an effort to lower the cost of the currently estimated $1.4 million building, Ironton Fire Chief Tom Runyon said.

The changes could cut almost $300,000 off the construction price.

"We’re still looking at several possibilities that are bringing us good results," Runyon said. "It doesn’t look as though the pre-engineered steel beams are going to influence the cost of the building much. However, the sculptured block may bring us a comparable price-range. We’re still on a fact-finding mission."

He said the city is also exploring the possibility of a different way of financing the project.

Late last spring, Fire Fee Committee members and city officials took the fire station plans back to the drawing board after a cost estimate that far exceeded the city’s original budget.

They later sent the plans through a second redesign, which resulted in smaller rooms, fewer amenities and less grounds space between the department and the sidewalk.

"There’s no doubt the current firehouse we’re operating out of now is not meeting regulations," Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary said. "We have to build a firehouse, but with losing all the industry we have, it’s created a shortfall of revenue from the fire fee."

He said architects are continuing to evaluate the building in search for areas to save money.

"We’re still evaluating the plans to determine what we may be able to eliminate, but it can only be cut so far to meet today’s regulations," Cleary said. "We’d hoped to have a station built by now, but losing the industries we have has slowed the progress of the project."

The Liebert Corporation has provided a small increase in revenue, he added.

Runyon said the concept of value engineering is also being reviewed.

"We are also looking at ways to use more cost-effective materials without reducing the life span of the building," he said. "The sculptured block design is definitely bringing figures that are closer to the budget."

Cleary said the project is continuing to take top priority despite current economic development projects.

City council members demonstrated a similar commitment to seeing a new fire station in the city by renewing a $100,000 bond during Thursday’s regular meeting for the second time.

"We are looking at every possibility we can to keep the same structure plan, yet lower the cost of project," he said.

"We have considered maybe changing some of the square footages but we really don’t know what else could be changed that hasn’t already been changed."