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Linn Valley to build new fire station

By Jackie Taylor
Linn County News – October 16, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – October 18, 2013

The Linn Valley City Council unanimously voted to build a new fire station Monday night, not on the land the property owners association gave them near city hall, but on the same location as the current fire station.

Councilman Keith Cowee suggested to the council during their workshop session prior to the regular meeting that they tear down the old station and build the new 40-foot-by-60-foot station on the same spot.

“We could add concrete on each side of the current concrete and add a bay; they’d still have to back the equipment in, but we could build it without taking a loan,” said Cowee.

The council was stymied on building on the new location because costs continued to rise with the use of an architect, all of the dirt work necessary to prepare the land, the addition of electricity and water and more. The current location has electricity, heat and access to water to fill the pumpers.

Cowee continued that with easy access to city hall and other meeting rooms the fire station doesn’t need a meeting room for training, saving money in construction.

“We’ll have three bays down here, two bays up on the hill and we won’t go into debt,” said Cowee.

Councilman Nicolas Philpott said, “We can build a 40-ft.-by-60 ft. three-bay there; it’s within our budget now.”

Councilman Brad Pennington said, “We need to start with something.”

The council then discussed whether they needed to hire an architect and there was a consensus that the metal building would be built to specs with the aid of pre-engineering from the building company.

“We want it nice,” said Cowee, “but not a big metropolis; many people were not in favor of the $250,000 building.”

Pennington agreed and said that it was overkill.

Cowee continued, “If we have the money, why not do this and get going on it? We won’t have to go into debt one penny. We could start in 30 days and have a place before it gets cold.”

Councilman Jack Colgin commented that the current location is prime area and visible to activity of the fire department by city residents.

As the current fire station is built on POA property, Cowee volunteered to go to a POA meeting to ask permission for the city to tear down the old station and build the new one with the additional space needs.

Later in the meeting, Cowee made a motion to get permission from the POA to tear down the old station, add concrete to accommodate the new facility and build a 40-ft.-by-60ft. new station.

During discussion, the council heard several suggestions of things that need to be accomplished before building, such as surveying the land, but following that unanimously approved Cowee’s motion to build a new station.

Cowee and Philpott will work with Fire Chief Todd Stone on the project and later bring actual costs back to the council for approval.

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