$3.3 million dollar building could be finished by the year’s end
By: Al Wicklund
MONROE The architect is working on construction drawings and barring unforeseen delays ground could be broken for the new firehouse on Centre Drive and Applegarth Road before the end of the year.
The pre-construction work for Fire District 3’s planned $3.3 million building is progressing, but not as quickly as Peter Lumia, the chairman of the district’s Board of Fire Commissioners, might wish.
"There always seems to be something that has to be done before you get to the next step," he said Tuesday. "It’s a painstaking process that requires more time and greater care than you might think."
The district board, which is building the fire station in cooperation with the Township Council, gained the voters’ approval of a $1.975 million referendum in February 2003.
The board previously had budgeted $400,000 and joined this with the referendum money to put together its $2.375 million share of the cost of construction.
Part of the firehouse will be used for District 3’s trucks and firefighters and part for a township ambulance and its emergency services crew.
The Township Council has appropriated $1.125 million as its part of the building’s cost.
Mr. Lumia said architect Dennis Ross of New York should have much of his work completed this spring.
Specifications for contractors’ bids should go out during the summer or early fall, he said.
"I’ll be happy when we get the bids back and see how the costs are running," Mr. Lumia said.
In the meantime, it will be more detail work, including cutting costs wherever possible.