| Work Detail |
Columbus has selected Driftwood Builders Inc. as the contractor for the build-out of a new city fire department training facility.
The city’s Board of Works on Tuesday approved the local company’s bid of $518,763 to do the build-out, which will consist of finishing the interior of the facility, and complete a few exterior improvements including landscaping. The contract also includes project supervision, interior finishes, plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning work.
The 12,000-square-foot facility on the Columbus AirPark property on the city’s north side was initially hoped to be ready by December. However, because the initial estimate for the build-out came in higher than the expected $500,000 cost, the city sent out a new request for proposals, a process that took several weeks.
Board of Works members authorized Columbus Fire Chief Mike Compton to notify Driftwood that it had the contract even before the documents were finalized in order to speed up the process and allow the contractor to begin purchasing needed materials for the project. The fire department hopes to get the needed exterior work completed before winter weather, Compton said.
Driftwood, based in Columbus, plans to use local workers and subcontractors for the project, Compton said.
The city agreed to hire Building Concepts of Indiana Inc. in January for $273,825 to construct the shell of the training facility on Verhulst Street. The building will be used for simulation exercises such as extrication and fire extinguisher training, Compton said earlier.
The facility will have two classrooms with space for 30 people in each. The department, which now trains in the basement of Fire Station No. 2 on Arnold Street, also plans to use the building for work performance evaluations, Compton said.
Other fire departments and first responders around Indiana will be able to rent the space for their training needs. City officials approved establishing a non-reverting fund last year that would be used to accumulate any revenue generated from the training facility including classroom rentals.
The Columbus Police Department will also have space within the building for training.
Funding for the project is being paid out of the fire department’s cumulative capital fund, in addition to money from the city’s public safety non-reverting fund. In March, the city approved using $2 million in Local Income Tax revenues for public safety needs, including $277,000 designated for a public safety training facility.
|
