WOODLAND - Plans for the start of a new fire station project in Woodland moved forward last month as the city council voted to accept a work bid and pursue funds via bonding during their regular meeting Nov. 21.
At the meeting, council voted unanimously to authorize additional bonding in the amount of $500,000 that will help fund the first phase of a new station on land along East Scott Avenue adjacent to the police station.
The bid for the base structure featuring two vehicle bays along with a modular unit for temporary firefighter housing was included in the awarded bid totalling close to $1.3 million, according to Clark County Fire and Rescue documents presented to council.
Documents from CCF&R listed three options for council to consider, ranging from a completed fire station as the most intensive — paid for in part by a proposed $6 million bond — to a midrange option completing the first phase of the station with a $1 million bond, as well as a minimum facilities option requiring $500,000 be acquired through bonding.
Council agreed on the third, least expensive option, offering up comments that touched on the state of the current station at 100 Davidson Ave. A CCF&R staff report listed several deficiencies in the current building, ranging from seismic vulnerability, substantial cracks and leaks in exterior walls, old and deteriorating plumbing causing water issues, logistical issues regarding the building’s location and generally inadequate facilities for 24-hour use.
Woodland Mayor Pro Tem Marilee McCall believed that the third option chosen was “the most fiscally prudent way to proceed” for the station. She explained that the city investing the smallest amount of funds to get what’s needed currently as the City of Woodland, then pursuing annexation into CCF&R’s fire protection district instead of the current contract of service would allow the city to have assistance from the department for completing the next phases.