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Cost To Fix Fire Station Stuns Officials

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By LAURA KINSLER

lkinsler@tampatrib.com

Published: November 12, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - City Council members got sticker shock this week when Fire Chief Keith Williams told them it would cost $1.3 million to repair and renovate the downtown fire station.

It's more the twice the amount city leaders planned for when they decided to repair the vacant station rather than build a new one. City Manager Steve Spina said the city will have to dip into its Penny-for-Pasco money to pay for the repairs.

"We don't really have a choice," Spina said. "We have to use our sales tax revenue."

Firefighters have been living and working out of the World War II Barracks Museum at the municipal airport since a Jan. 23 storm flooded the downtown station.

Council members were hoping to keep the budget at around $500,000, but Williams said the nearly 50-year-old building could not meet existing building codes without more extensive work. In addition, the city will have to provide off-site parking and buy new furniture, an emergency generator and an inflatable barrier to keep floodwaters from damaging the station again.

"Personally, I think the price is a little high," Councilman Clyde Bracknell said.
Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson also called the design extravagant; pointing out that it included lots of expensive built-in cabinetry and five separate offices. She wants the architect to trim costs and bring a new design back to council - a proposal that aggravated the firefighters who have been displaced since the flood.

"Please keep in mind that we live one third of our lives there," Lt. Shawn Baptist said. "For 11 months, we've been out at the barracks without even a stove to cook our food. We're suffering every single day."

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844.

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