A possible new location and design for Jefferson City's Fire Station No. 2 was unveiled during Thursday's Public Safety Committee meeting.
A 10,000-square-foot fire station could be constructed at 3025 Robinson Road, across the street from Scholastic National Services Organization. The current fire station at 2400 E. McCarty St. is 4,700 square feet.
The Jefferson City Council approved a contract with the Architects Alliance in late December to provide planning services for fire stations 2, 4 and 6. The legislation suggested either renovating, rebuilding or relocating Fire Station No. 2.
When looking at possible locations, Fire Chief Matthew Schofield said, he wanted to make sure the station was still able to provide services to the east side of the city. The Robinson Road location would provide easier access to major roads like U.S. 50, East McCarty Street and Algoa Road.
Since the proposed location is slightly elevated from the road, it would give motorists more time to react if a firetruck pulled out. The current Fire Station No. 2 is about 8 feet down from the road, so when firetrucks emerge over the incline, motorists have less time to react. Inclement weather like snow and ice also makes it difficult for firetrucks to make it up the incline.
The site would also allow for future expansion. The new fire station could have two and a half bays, but another bay could be added if needed.
Two of the bays would be full-length and have a drive-thru feature so trucks can pull into the station. The third would be a half bay with a mezzanine, which could be used for smaller vehicles, in-station training and storage.
A 2011 facility review noted Fire Station No. 2, which was constructed in 1970, had inadequate equipment, gear storage, office space, and restroom and shower facilities, among other things.
Schofield said the original idea was to remodel or extend the current fire station, but after analyzing the facility and land, it was decided it was not financially feasible and the current lot size would limit future extensions.
"There are things we know we needed to do to make our building not only code-compliant, but to also make it functional for the operations, not only today's operations but future operations," Schofield said. "Even if we had sunk a million dollars or $2 million into the current location, we would have still fallen short of that goal."
Cary Gampher, with the Architects Alliance, said important services would be cut if the new fire station was smaller than 10,000 square feet.
There are two designs that could be used in the final project. The one presented at Thursday's meeting was a linear design, while the second design is wider.
The projected cost for the entire project - including the contract with the Architects Alliance, land acquisition and construction of the fire station - is more than $2.9 million. The Jefferson City Fire Department has slightly more than $1 million budgeted from the city's sales tax G and the fire department's general operating budget. Schofield said he is discussing ways to fund the other $1.9 million.
The cost, design and location could change because the fire department and engineering firm are still exploring ways to better the new station.
"We see this as a significant investment for the fire department and the community, and we want to build a building that is going to be there 50-100 years that will be highly functional," Schofield said.
Schofield hopes to present the final information to the Jefferson City Council in two or three months. If approved, Gampher wants to start the bidding process at the beginning of next year.