Cape Girardeau may scale back improvements to one fire station

The Cape Girardeau City Council will look to award three construction contracts for improvements at two of the city's fire stations today, even though one of the projects may be scaled back.

Council members will vote on hiring Penzel Construction Co. Inc. of Jackson to construct an annex building next to fire station 2 at a cost of more than $1.25 million.

The council will consider hiring Kiefner Brothers Inc. of Cape Girardeau for the other two projects: interior renovation and construction of an addition to fire station 1 on South Sprigg Street at a cost of $1.1 million and interior renovation of fire station 2 at a cost of more than $321,000.

But the addition to fire station 1 may have to be scrapped for lack of funding, said Anna Kangas, the city's code enforcement manager who is overseeing the two projects.

Kangas said construction costs for the annex building came in higher than expected.

"We only have a little over $2 million to do all three projects," Kangas said, adding the projects will be funded with revenue from the city's fire sales tax.

Kangas said city staff will work with Kiefner Brothers to trim costs for the fire station 1 project. A final decision about constructing an addition to the station will be determined by mid-December, she said.

At fire station 2, plans call for building a metal-building annex with four large bays to house firetrucks and equipment and provide maintenance, office and storage space.

Fire chief Rick Ennis said the annex bays will be large enough to house eight pieces of fire equipment, including the department's hazardous material response trailer and equipment needed to respond to incidents involving collapsed buildings.

According to Kangas, the annex could be completed by January or February. The renovation of fire station 2 will begin once the annex is completed.

Kangas said that timetable reflects the fact the annex initially will serve as a temporary residence for firefighters during renovation of station 2.

The bunkroom, restrooms and kitchen will be renovated and new flooring installed at the Mount Auburn station, officials said.

At the South Sprigg station, the city plans to renovate the main lobby and restrooms on the first floor and remodel bunkroom restrooms/showers, the day room and the kitchen on the second floor.

If funding is available, the project would include construction of a 3,800-square-foot, two-story addition to the south end of the station. The addition would house turnout gear and provide other storage space, as well as a work room, a bay for a support vehicle and a fitness room.

Ennis said firefighters will continue to operate out of fire station 1 during construction, which is expected to be completed in 2017.

"It will be an inconvenience for our people," he said, but added the building has enough room for firefighters to work around the construction.

First-floor renovations at fire station 1 will add needed security to the lobby with a glassed-in window and make the main-floor restrooms handicapped accessible, Ennis said.

New restrooms and showers at the two fire stations will provide greater privacy for both male and female firefighters, Ennis said.

Fire station 1, built in 1980, and fire station 2 constructed in 1991, were built at a time when firefighting was a male occupation and privacy was of less concern, he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

1 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

378 S. Mount Auburn Rd., Cape Girardeau, Mo.