The decision on a location of the new Central Fire Station in Brownwood has been postponed after two concerned citizens expressed their worries of the proposed location and response times.
Brownwood City Manager Bobby Rountree recommended to the city council on Tuesday to approve the location at the corner of East Chandler and Congress Avenue as the site for construction of the new Central Fire Station. According to Rountree, the location offered benefits, both financially and for safety reasons that outweigh the current location for the construction.
Longtime resident Al Faetche addressed the council, stating that he had actually toured the current facility with firemen and asked what problems they felt needed to be addressed at the current location. He explained that the biggest problem currently was having to back the trucks into the fire station and modifying the currently location to include drive-through bays would solve this. Faetche expressed his concern that the proposed location would offer delays in response time for firefighters.
“I’m concerned about the fact that we are spending $3.5 million dollars on that when we have a lot of other places to put it. There’s a lot of land next door that can be acquired,” said Faetche. “It needs to be on a street where you can get somewhere fast, and that isn’t one of them. It needs to be on Austin or Main. I think you need to take a look at those matters.”
Former city councilman Ed McMillian also expressed concern regarding the proposed location being even farther from the north side of Brownwood where he lives, and that he worries that the city’s ISO ratings will be affected. McMillian stated that he researched the safety concerns at the current location and found that there have been no accidents at the current location involving fire trucks responding or returning from calls.
“I believe there are other locations, past Smitty’s, that would get it out of the intersection,” said McMillian. “I wish you would look at the location more. Every minute counts in an emergency. I’d like to see it on Austin Avenue.”
Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes stated that the city has already incurred the cost of debt service when the certificates of obligation were sold to fund the various city improvement projects including the new Central Fire Station and that the current economic conditions allow the city to get more for the money with lower interest rates on loans and that the city wants to take advantage of this by moving forward with the new fire station project.
Brownwood Fire Chief Del Albright stated that there are issues with the current station that need to be addressed such as no storage, plumbing and wiring problems, asbestos within the structure, no insulation, no regular office space, inadequate living space and restrooms for the firefighters, and that plumbing issues could cause problems with the slab if it has to be broken into for repairs.
Rountree also pointed out that if they opted to remodel the current location, it would have to be modified to have a second floor for expansion and that would lead to having to install an elevator to comply with ADA regulations.
Rountree recommended the new location at E. Chandler and Congress be considered and councilman H.D. Jones moved to table the discussion, seconded by councilman Draco Miller. After a split vote to table the discussion, Mayor Haynes voted to table it.
“I see no harm in tabling the issue to consider the location more closely,” said Haynes who explained that the issue may again be on the next meeting’s agenda.
Architectural firm Brown Reynolds & Waterford provided an analysis of two possible locations to be considered for the new fire station including the E. Chandler/Congress corner and the existing fire station location of Austin Avenue/Main Street. City officials recommend the E. Chandler/Congress corner because the city currently owns that land and there will be minimal cost for clearing and site preparation. The briefing sheet states that the existing location at Main and Austin was not recommended because of the need to acquire additional property, close a portion of Booker Street, and to remove the fire station from a high traffic corner to eliminate accessibility and safety issues. Building at a new location would also eliminate the need for temporary relocation of firefighters during the construction process.
In other matters on Tuesday’s agenda:
*Consent items were unanimously approved, which included considering an increase in funding for the Title XX 2011/2012 Texas Department of Aging and Disability Service contract and a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with TxDOT to close various streets and intersections during the Brownwood Reunion activities.
*Council approved a resolution declaring an out of service water storage tank as surplus property and authorizing staff to sell it as salvage.
*Council then convened into a closed executive session regarding the sale of city owned property on Austin Avenue and the acquisition of property located at 720 E. Baker Street.
