The Henderson City Commission awarded ARC Construction Co. of Evansville the bid to build a new Second Street fire station.
The total base bid is $10.785 million.
According to a memo in the commission’s Tuesday meeting agenda packet from City Manager Dylan Ward, there are some alternate components that may be added to the base if deemed necessary. Those include four-fold doors at $166,000, a five-year building automation contract at $16,000 and a conduit for vehicle and pedestrian signals at $13,600.
The four-fold doors are different than doors currently in place at Henderson stations, officials said. Henderson Fire Department Chief Josh Dixon said he visited two new stations in Bowling Green recently that have four-fold doors. He said those stations haven’t had to do any maintenance on the doors for four years.
Project Manager Jenna Basham said construction is scheduled to take about 14 ½ months and could begin in the next couple months.
Ward said he hopes that construction can be complete by next summer.
There were four other bidders. The next lowest bid from Empire Contractors came in at about $87,500 higher than Arc.
The 20,071 square-foot building will house administrative offices for the fire department as well as serve as Station 1, which is what is in place at the current location at Washington and Green streets. The new station will be in the same spot as the old Immanuel Baptist Temple building at the corner of Adams and Second streets.
Directly to the east of where the station will be located is Holy Name School, and on the other side of Second Street is Holy Name Church. Fire officials say they’ve discussed logistics with both school and church officials, especially regarding protocol when an engine is making a run and exiting the station.
Mayor Brad Staton asked Henderson Fire Department Chief Josh Dixon his opinion about units responding to an emergency at the time school is starting or letting out. Parents drive on First Street to turn into the school’s parking lot to drop off or pick up students.
Dixon said fire engineers can drive onto either First Street or Second Street from the facility, depending on where the emergency is occurring. Additionally, engines may go left or right onto both streets. He said he doesn’t believe there will be any issues with the school.
On both First and Second streets, emergency signs will be placed in both directions 300 feet from the fire engine exit, said fire officials. They will light up when units from the station are leaving, they said.
