Plans to build a second, new fire station in Bradley, IL, moved forward with the village board voting to award two construction bids, according to a report published by the Daily Journal.

The newspaper said the board voted to award a $195,651  for excavation work and another $52,214.

The total cost of the project was in the $1.7 million range, but this summer bids increased to just under  $3.5 million because of skyrocketing supply costs, according to the newspaper report.

The village board decide not to accept the bids and asked that the bid for construction be re issued for a second batch of bids to see if they were lower, according to the paper.

With hopes of having the fire station opened by late 2022, the new second station will provide coverage for northeast portion of the city which has seen significant residential and commercial growth, the paper reported.  

The ceremonial ribbon was recently cut to open the $23.5 million new home of the Boston (MA) Fire Department Engine 42, Rescue 2, District 9 at Columbus Avenue and Bragdon Street in Roxbury (MA), reports universalhub.com. It’s Boston’s first new firehouse in more than 30 years.

The new, 2.5-floor station includes a ventilation system designed to keep carcinogens from reaching the second floor; it replaces a station built in 1952. The facility has 23,000 square feet of space, compared to 6,000 in the old building, the report says.

It has three bays, a classroom, roof training spaces, a fitness room, and 14 bunk beds. More information on the new station can be found here.

I was happy to join for the ribbon cutting of the new @BostonFire Engine 42, Rescue 2, District 9 firehouse in #Roxbury. This is the @CityofBoston’s first new firehouse in over 30 years.https://t.co/OHipoZWLNy pic.twitter.com/IP8HthTE3q

— Kim Janey (@MayorKimJaney) October 14, 2021

Firefighters with Stuart (FL) Fire Rescue will use an RV for up to two years as a temporary fire station while a new fire station is built, according to a report published by tcpalm.com.

The report said at least two firefighters will be at the temporary fire station around the clock and the RV will be living space for the firefighters during their 24-hour shifts.

The RV will be located in Haney Creek Park and will serve a portion of the city north of Roosevelt Bridge, an area the city has already planned to build a $2 million station, the report stated.

An ambulance will also be stationed at the temporary facility, the report stated.

Benzonia Township (MI) voters will decide November 2 on the township’s plan to borrow $3.5 million to build an expanded Fire Station 5 and township office at 2717 Benzie Highway, reports recordpatriot.com.

The millage to pay the bond would be 0.8605 mills the first year, and not to be levied for more than 20 years; the average levy of the millage over the bond would be 0.7298, according to the report. The cost on a property with $100,000 taxable value would be $72.96 per year.

Officials say there is a public informational meeting planned for 6 p.m. on October 21 at the township office and on Zoom. The report notes that a similar plan was proposed about 10-15 years ago, but it failed by a thin margin.

The current facility is short on room for personnel and apparatus. The new digs would have five bays, overnight quarters for firefighters and EMS, office space, a training room, kitchen facilities, and room for expansion, the report says.

The potential property is located on 12 acres over two parcels in south Benzonia, across from the Consumers Energy building. The township purchased both parcels for $250,000, according to the report.

Kendra Baker

The News-Times, Danbury, Conn.

(MCT)

Oct. 14—BETHEL — Getting a new truck for the Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company may take longer than the town’s newly formed Fire Commission originally planned.

The commission was established earlier this year to make budgeting for fire apparatuses more efficient following controversy over the repair of a fire truck in 2020.

The Bethel Volunteer Fire Department had argued that its ladder truck was irreparable and that a new one was needed for up to $1.7 million. The department’s existing truck, however, was ultimately repaired for about $15,000.

Over the past few months, the Fire Commission has been looking into purchasing a Pierce Enforcer PTC 107′ Ascendant Quint fire truck — a relatively compact apparatus with the equipment capabilities of a ladder truck and the water-pumping ability of a fire engine — for the Stony Hill fire district.

Stony Hill Fire Chief John Baker said he believes the truck’s features would be beneficial to the town and its maneuverability would be useful in residential areas with small, narrow roadways.

Although some commissioners seemed a bit uncertain about the proposal in September, the Fire Commission voted to present it to the Board of Selectmen, which forwarded the request last week to the Board of Finance.

During its Tuesday meeting, however, the finance board decided not to act on the proposal and instead asked that the Fire Commission take more time to assess the near-term capital needs and priorities of the town’s two volunteer fire companies.

Board of Finance Chair Bob Manfreda said it’s crucial that the board be prudent with respect to such a large financial decision, and more information is needed from the Fire Commission.

“We have to make a decision that is consistent with our community priorities, and … our decision must be driven by the advice of subject matter experts,” he said.

Manfreda said there have been “conflicting opinions” regarding the town’s safety needs, and he feels the Fire Commission hasn’t had enough time for thorough research and discussion.

“The conflicting information makes for significant financial uncertainty,” he said. “In the public sector, such financial uncertainty typically results in a no answer, but this board does not want to come to a no answer.”

Instead, Manfreda said he would rather have the fire commission take the time it needs to provide information needed for the finance board to make “a fully informed and prudent financial determination.”

“Additional information is needed to determine whether the town of Bethel’s capital nonrecurring fund has the sufficient balance or, alternatively, whether the town needs to borrow funds to pay for a Stony Hill Fire Department quint apparatus,” Manfreda said.

“A typical longer-term apparatus replacement plan would be most helpful to making this financial determination,” he added.

Fellow finance board member Robert Palmer agreed, saying that he supports purchasing safety equipment for the town but the question of financing it remains.

“The commission really hasn’t provided definitive information in terms of what equipment needs they have, what the long-range plan is and how we’re going to approach this,” Palmer said. “We’re kind of in the dark.”

Although he would like to move ahead with the fire truck proposal, Palmer said he doesn’t think it would be “necessarily prudent” for the finance board to make a d