Sitka fire hall project approved
On a 6-1 vote Aug. 26 the City and Borough of Sitka Assembly gave the go-ahead for the design and development of a 16,042- square-foot fire hall.
The budget approved for the project was $4.6 million, $500,000 more than the $4.1 million budget set for the project in January this year, when a 14,000-square-foot facility was being considered.
The larger project was recommended by Fire Chief Dave Miller and endorsed by City Administrator Tony Zimmer and City Engineer Rich Riggs. Marko Dapcevich cast the dissenting vote, contending the larger size was based on the fire department's "wants," not "needs."
The new facility will replace the current 8,000-square foot fire hall on the same site.
All but $237,000 of the funding has been identified from available sources, said city Finance Director Dave Wolff. State matching grants already in hand - along with those for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 - will be combined with excess city revenues designated for capital projects to provide $3.1 million. An additional $1.2 million will be lent by or transferred from the city revolving LID fund. A number of options are being explored for raising the final $237,592 needed for the project.