BRADENTON – A lot has been purchased, an architect selected and now the first rendering is in for the design of West Manatee Fire Rescue’s new administration building.
The design, created by architects at the Hall Darling Design Studio, tops out at 3,879 square feet and contains office and storage spaces for the fire district’s staff, a kitchen and restroom facilities and a meeting room with a separate entrance that is hardened to survive a Category 5 storm.
Chief Ben Rigney presented the design to commissioners, saying it meets the district’s goals of having a smaller administration building. He added that the quote of $1,469,708 to build the structure falls within budget for the building and keeps the district out of debt, while the hardened meeting room gives the district a base of operations in case of a hurricane. The previous administration building, which was sold more than a year ago, was 11,200 square feet in size.
Rigney said he feels comfortable the district can pay for the construction of the building without borrowing funds using reserve funds and impact fees. He said an official not-to-exceed amount for the project is expected from the architects by August for commissioners to consider. If they agree to move forward with the project, he said the building could be ready to occupy by the middle of 2021. During the April 21 meeting, Rigney said he was looking for direction from commissioners to move forward with the proposed design and floorplan.
Commissioner Randy Cooper, who serves as the board’s liaison on the administration building project, said that while the floorplan as presented is a compromise, it’s one of the best he’s seen within the district’s budget.
While commissioners agreed they liked the proposed design, where they varied was in how to pay for the project.
Though Rigney said the district has the funds to pay for the construction project outright, Commissioner David Bishop said that with the current economic climate and drop in interest rates it might be more beneficial to borrow the funds and save the reserve funds that would be used to finance the building.
“Amen,” Commissioner Al Robinson said, agreeing with Bishop. “I’m in the amen corner on borrowing the money.”
While Commissioner Larry Jennis said he wouldn’t be opposed to borrowing the funds, Commissioner George Harris said he doesn’t see a reason for it when the district already has the money available. He added that with the effects of statewide shutdowns due to COVID-19 precautions, the economy may experience a downturn which could potentially lower the district’s construction costs.
Robinson said he’s still not in favor of constructing a new administration building due to the cost and that he would like to continue looking for a pre-existing structure in the district to purchase.
Rigney said the total cost of the building plus fees and the purchase of the property is expected to come in around $1.8-1.9 million dollars.
“This is absurd,” Robinson said. “This is ludicrous.”
Bishop said that while it does seem expensive, for a municipal building that has the amenities the fire district needs, including the hardening, he thinks the pricing is good.
Jennis agreed with Bishop, adding that what the district wants, a building that would survive a strong hurricane and still be usable, is a “specialty thing. It’s not a generic building.”
Cooper said he would work with Rigney to judge the feasibility of borrowing the funds for the project and bring options back to his fellow commissioners at an upcoming meeting.
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