SAFFORD — Needed improvements to the restrooms at the Safford Fire Station resulted in designs of a new station and included talk about the possibility of a new City Hall.
The City Council heard about consultant recommendations to either remodel or construct a new fire station during the most recent work session Oct. 27.
BWS Architects, the group that designed the Safford Police Station, offered the option of a remodel with the addition of a new vehicle bay. Estimated cost is $8.4 million.
A second option with a remodel with new additions of two new vehicle bays, offices, a conference room and meeting room, plus the possible inclusion of a second floor with lockers, showers and sleeping quarters, was estimated to cost about $10.6 million.
The third option was a tear-down of the existing building and construction of a new station, with an estimated cost from $10.6 million to $12 million.
The council was also asked for a preferred location of a new station. Options included the corner of U.S. Highway 70 and 4th Avenue; the corner of 4th Avenue and 9th Street, where the Library Annex is located; and behind City Hall, allowing the lot where the current station is located on 7th Avenue to be turned into a parking lot.
City staff explained the city has the money to construct, but it’s recommended to use debt financing since there are other capital projects that also need to be initiated. And it was discussed that the Fire District would also contribute funds to the project, which resulted in some pushback from Fire District board members.
Board member Keith Alexander said he wasn’t sure voters would approve an increase in taxes to pay for the district’s share.
“It’s referred to as our relationship is a partnership, and that’s a nice thing to say, but really it’s not. Really we’re your customer,” Alexander said. “We don’t set fire policies, we don’t partner with staff, we didn’t partner with determining where the station might be.”
It was during discussion about keeping the Fire Station adjacent to City Hall that the subject of a new City Hall was introduced by Vice Mayor Arnold Lopez, who said, “I want to leave some property to build a new City Hall, too.”
Public Works Director Lance Henrie said the initial thought is to develop a new City Hall on the lawn area and when the existing City Hall is demolished that footprint be turned into parking.
City Manager John Cassella said the city will have further discussions with the Fire District and that the Highway 70 location appears to be a non-starter.
“Right now, I’m thinking we down to two locations out of the three, and I don’t feel like renovation, at this point, is an option if you’re looking at anything with any long term,” Cassella said.
