Plans for a new West Manatee Fire Rescue Station 4 are underway.
Commissioner Randy Cooper, Fire Chief Tom Sousa and Battalion Chief Chris Kiernan met June 5 with representatives of Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Allison-Gause Engineering and NDC Construction at the administration building to discuss improvements needed and the basic layout of the new station.
The new Station 4 will be built on its current site at 407 67th Street W., Bradenton. The plans include an expanded building large enough to house a ladder truck and three engines plus an ambulance with three drive-thru bays. In the event of a hurricane, Station 1, located on Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, would be evacuated to Station 4. The new Station 4 must meet hurricane construction standards.
Items discussed June 5 included a widened driveway to help ease traffic congestion issues related to a day care facility to the north. The station shares a driveway with the day care. The group also discussed paving some previously designated green spaces to create a large apparatus preparation area and the demolition of a small storage building on the property. Removing the building will allow for more concrete pad space, but will necessitate relocating a propane tank.
The new station site is planned to include secured parking for district employees and an enclosed dumpster.
Bob Gause, of Allison-Gause Engineering, recommended planting palm trees to provide shade and alternating between black asphalt and white concrete to help reduce heat retention.
Daryl Krumsieg of Wannemacher Jensen Architects went over the proposed 9,800-square-foot building plans, which underwent some minor changes during the course of the conversation.
“Wow, that’s a lot of security locks,” Sousa commented, noting the amount of secured doors throughout the proposed structure.
“It’s a lot of doors,” Kiernan agreed, recommending the removal of several doors in secure areas. Gause suggested using magnetic locks rather than remote controlled or combination locks on the interior and exterior of the building to make areas more easily accessible for district employees.
It also was suggested that windows in the dorms be removed and the addition of a 10-by-12-foot room for more storage.
Adam Phillips of NDC Construction recommended glass doors for the apparatus bays to make the building more visually appealing.
Sousa immediately requested the cost to repair a glass garage door, joking that it would be hit by a fire truck at least once a year.
Kiernan also requested a sign for the front of the building to advertise public meetings and district-sponsored events.
Phillips agreed to price options for the building and present them along with updated structural drawings at the group’s next meeting.
Sousa plans to present his recommendations for the site plan and structural drawings to district commissioners at the June meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the administration building, 6417 Third Ave. W., Bradenton.