Boyceville reviews schematic drawing of $1.9 million fire station

By LeAnn R. Ralph

BOYCEVILLE  —  The latest estimate is that a new fire station in Boyceville would cost $1.9 million.

Members of the Boyceville Fire District reviewed schematic drawings for a new fire station presented by Dave Cihasky of Five Bugles Design at the November 11 meeting.

Five Bugles was supposed to meet with the five-year planning committee to review the drawings before making a presentation to the fire district board, said Rich Monn, chair of the Town of Stanton and chair of the fire district’s five-year planning committee.

Monn said he was of the understanding that drawings would not be ready until after January 1.

Gilbert Krueger, Boyceville village president and chair of the fire district, said that since Cihasky was at the fire district meeting, he would like to hear more about the proposed fire station.

The drawings presented at the meeting are for a 12,560 square-foot fire station with five bay doors and room to add a sixth bay in the future.

The proposed fire station is the smallest that would meet the basic needs of the Boyceville fire department, Cihasky said.

The probable cost for the fire station would include $300,000 for site development, $318,000 for the administrative portion of the building, $934,450 for the apparatus bay, $90,000 for mezzanine, $85,000 for contingencies, and $143,000 for fees and permits, according to an estimate Cihasky provided to the fire district board.

Five Bugles would charge $100,000 for designing the fire station, Cihasky said in response to a question about the design fee.

The design fee is included in the estimate for fees and permits.

The finished portion of the building would cost $140 to $160 per square foot, and the apparatus bay would cost about $110 per square foot, Cihasky said.

The actual cost of the fire station will probably be between $1.5 million and $1.9 million, he said.

The actual final cost of the fire station will not be able to be determined until bids are received, Cihasky said.

Monn said Five Bugles would be notified of the next meeting of the five-year planning committee.

The five-year planning committee is planning to have a complete package to present to the entire fire district board, Monn said.

In other business, the board learned that the fire department has gone out on 52 runs so far this year, which is fewer than normal for this time of year.

Ambulance district

During the ambulance district meeting, board members approved a payroll policy that appoints the ambulance service director as the payroll administrator.

The policy will become effective January 1.

According to the policy, the EMS chief will process the time clock hours for the Boyceville Community Ambulance District within three days of end of the previous pay period. Paydays will be on the 8th and 23rd of the month. The payroll hours will be submitted to the bank for director deposit into the EMS staff’s pre-determined accounts.

The net payroll listed on the report of the ambulance district account was $11,133.20 for October.

In other business, the board learned that the ambulance service has gone out on 220 runs so far this year, which is ahead of last year at this time.

Next meeting

The Boyceville fire district and the Boyceville ambulance district will meet next on December 16. The fire district meets at 6:30, and the ambulance district meeting will follow immediately after.