Sand Springs Fire Station #2 to receive $1.5 million new facility
/By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The Sand Springs City Council approved the use of $1,500,000 to design and build a new building to replace Fire Station #2 in Prattville in a regular monthly meeting Monday evening.
The current building has undergone multiple remodels that have failed to improve upon chronic roof leaks, a history of mold issues, and an overall inadequate design.
The original facility was designed primary as a garage for holding volunteer fire department trucks. Eventually a single living quarter was constructed, then a second story was added in the 1980s. The residential structure also encroaches outside the property line by four feet along the west wall.
The apparatus bays use residential-quality garage doors and the ceilings are too low to allow proper routine maintenance. Whenever snow accumulates on the access drive the garage doors don't open high enough to allow the trucks to exit, meaning fire fighters have to keep the exits shoveled at all times.
Proposed floor plan for new facility.
Fritz Baily, P.C. estimates that all-new construction would cost approximately $1,357,020 as opposed to $1,237,376 for total renovation of the existing station. New construction would add more than 3,000 square feet as well as establish far better functionality.
The replacement building will be built further south and east of the current station so that the current facilities will remain open until construction is complete.
The facility will be single-story, allowing for faster response time. It will also include multiple shower rooms to provide more privacy. The current facility holds a common restroom, which will be impossible to use if and when the Fire Department hires female fire fighters.
One of three proposed plans for replacing the existing station.
One of three proposed plans for replacing the existing station.
One of three proposed plans for replacing the existing station.
