By Rich Pollack
As Highland Beach finalizes construction plans for a new, larger fire station to accommodate additional vehicles, town leaders are looking for steps residents can take to show their continued support for the creation of a new town-operated fire department.
“One of the things we want to do is find a way for residents to have an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the new fire station,” Town Manager Marshall Labadie said.
Labadie said one concept could be to have a “giving wall” on the side of the new fire station listing names of supportive residents.
Another idea, he said, could be to have naming opportunities on paver bricks at the station.
“And if someone wants to pay for the station, we’ll entertain the idea of naming rights,” Labadie joked, later explaining that the price tag for the new building is likely to be between $5 million and $6 million.
Donations would probably be required in order for residents to be listed, but Labadie said the idea isn’t about money.
Instead, he said it’s about community and strengthening the relationship between the residents and the town, which was bruised during the run-up to the March referendum on charter revisions.
“We think this will be a good opportunity to further engage the residents who really love Highland Beach,” he said. “Communities are about people and places, and this is a chance to connect the two.”
Labadie sees the idea as a “community-building exercise” with a focus on the future.
“A community giving wall, for example, gives a lasting mark,” he said, adding that the town would most likely create a nonprofit foundation to accept donations.
While the idea still needs more thought, Labadie said the town’s plans for the creation of a new fire department, following a decision to no longer pay for fire rescue services from Delray Beach, are “on track.”
A big part of that transition — and a major expense — is building a fire station to replace the current town-owned one.
The town initially hoped to renovate the current station to accommodate four vehicles — an additional fire truck and an additional rescue wagon — but discovered the existing building presented too many limitations.
“The current structure is beyond its lifespan,” Labadie said.
The new station — which will be about 11,000 square feet compared to 4,700 square feet at the existing station — will have three bays instead of two and will be a two-story building similar in style to the adjacent Town Hall.
The second story will include an Emergency Operations Center, as well as administrative offices and bunking facilities.
Labadie said the town is working with architects to finalize the design and is in negotiations with a building contractor to determine construction costs.
Those costs, Labadie said, are likely to come in about 10% above the town’s initial estimate of about $5 million but will still keep the total conversion start-up costs under the $10 million approved by voters in a November referendum.
“Our estimates were very conservative,” he said.
The town is also in the process of securing a low-interest bank loan for $5 million to cover much of the start-up costs. Commissioners have already agreed to spend as much as $4 million from reserves.
While the new station is under construction, a temporary station, planned for the parking lot in front of Town Hall, will be in use.
Labadie said the plan is to have the new station completed by May 2024 when the contract with Delray Beach ends and the town takes over fire service.
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