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Mich. city to spend $163K to remove mold, asbestos from firehouse kitchens

The Flint City Council approved funding to remodel kitchens at two fire stations to support firefighter well-being

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The Flint Fire Department received two new fire trucks on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, as seen here during a press conference at Fire Station 1 in downtown Flint. The trucks will be used out of Fire Station 5 and 8 respectively.

Jake May/TNS

By Ron Fonger
mlive.com

FLINT, Mich. — The city of Flint is moving ahead with plans to remodel two fire station kitchens with mold and asbestos issues.

The City Council approved $163,964 for the renovations, which include ceiling and drywall work, painting and countertops during its meeting on Tuesday, May 26.

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“The benefit to city operations is the kitchen serves as the heart of the fire station, offering significant benefits for firefighter well-being, team camaraderie and operational efficiency ...,” a fire department review of the proposal reads.

City officials sought bids for the work at Station 6 on West Pierson Road and Station 8 on East Atherton Road after Chief Teron Wiggins met with city officials about the need for renovations.

The staff review for the project says mold and asbestos issues led to the decision to complete the work.

Council members approved funding for Siwek Construction Company of Mundy Township, the sole responsive bidder for the work, which is expected to start after the beginning of the next fiscal year on July 1.

Flint maintains Genesee County’s only full-time fire department, providing fire and emergency medical services in the city.

Firefighters work from four stations — Station 1 downtown, Station 5 on Western Road, Station 6 and Station 8.

In April, Wiggins said he was making plans to reopen Station 3, a brown-out King Avenue building, once staffing allows and new equipment can be put into service.

Council members did not raise questions about the Siwek contract on Tuesday or during a committee meeting last week.

Late last year, the city also took on a project to deal with what officials described as a minute amount of mold that had grown in City Hall North, which links the Police Department to the primary City Hall building.

Police officers had been concerned about mold and workplace air quality for years, the Flint Police Officers Association said at the time.

The city said in January that its testing found mold in City Hall North, but not enough to be considered significant.

Siwek has been hired by the city previously for work at Oak Business Center, according to the staff review of the kitchen contract.

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