The Wakefield New Fire Department committee gathered for a meeting on April 4 to discuss with architects the proposed site, consider proposed schematics and consider bond terms.
Representatives from Prochaska & Associates conducted the meeting, and walked the 11 Committee members and two guests through a host of topics that started with the preliminary site plan.
The Committee has mainly pursued a 4-acre property located at the northwest corner of some donated property south of Wakefield. The group considered a plan drawn up by a former planner, including a 100’ x 200’ rectangular station building, an entrance onto Highway 35 and parking lot behind the station.
The group discussed the proposed building, layout of the site, possible entries onto Highway 35, Department of Transportation rules and possible utility crossings and sewer lines on that property in the future.
The group heard that P&A had completed a Property Survey Request for Proposals that can be sent to a survey company, once the site plan was “resolved a little further.”
The main issue, reported the minutes, that the “[finalizing] overall property dimensions, which could change with site plan modifications, as well as how much additional farmland or highway right-of-way should be included in the RFP.
The Board met following the meeting, and decided to allow the release of the RFP to Olsson & Associates following circulation of a revised site plan to the Board and the committee.
Once the survey is complete, an RFP for Civil Engineering can be composed to determine the utility and fill dirt requirements, and then a budget for the building and project could be begun.
The Board has considered a full bond for the project, but with no firm cost established, there was no way to determine costs to the Rural Fire Board yet, or to propose any partnership for the City of Wakefield.
The next meeting for the “Citizen’s Committee” was planned for Thursday, May 2.