By Andrew Abramson
The Palm Beach Post
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Commissioners on Monday gave Mayor Jeri Muoio the initial go-ahead to build three fire stations, even as city officials ponder laying off firefighters to make budget.
Finance director Randy Sherman estimated construction would cost $13 million and interest, another $2.6 million. An additional $4.6 million to replace fire trucks and other vehicles would bring the total to $20.3 million, he said.
The commission agreed to issue bonds to cover much of the expense so that bids can go out soon and construction can begin while costs are low. The city would pay $7 million from its fire fee, a $25 tax residents pay each year.
The costliest construction, estimated at $7.7 million, will occur at fire station 5 on Congress Avenue just south of Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard. That station will double as the city’s emergency operations center, which Sherman said will be the only building in the city capable of withstanding a Category 5 hurricane.
Commissioners have described fire station 4 at Howard Park (1718 Parker Ave.) as the worst in the city, deteriorating and ridden with mold. Replacing that station will cost $2.8 million.
Fire station 8 at Ibis, west of the Beeline Highway off Northlake Boulevard, is in temporarily trailers. A permanent station would cost $2.7 million.
While the fire fee was initially proposed to pay for construction and rehabilitation of fire stations, former Mayor Lois Frankel instead used that fund this year to keep the department running.
Monday’s plan called for the city to continue using some fire fee money for operating expenses through 2014.
In 2012, under Muoio’s plan, most of the fire fee would be used for operating expenses and in 2013 it would be split between operating and construction expenses. In 2014 a majority would go to construction and in 2015 it would be used entirely for construction.
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