South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Mehlville fire board OKs pact to build new firehouse

A $1.274 million contract for the construction of a new firehouse was awarded to United Construction last week by the Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors voted unanimously May 22 to award the contract totaling $1,274,030 to United Construction to build a new No. 2 firehouse at the corner of Telegraph Road and Whitshire Drive.

The district received 14 base bids for constructing the new firehouse with the lowest ones submitted by Schneider Construction of O’Fallon at $1,186,715.70 and United Construction of St. Louis at $1,190,000.

But Greg Garner of Archimages, hired by the district as an architectural and engineering consultant, recommended United Construction based on its experience and because Schneider Construction did not properly fill out the application.

While United provided an additional estimate of $56,000 to construct new traffic signalization near the firehouse, Schneider included that cost in its base bid, but did not break it out, he said.

That $56,000 is included in the overall project budget and was added to the contract with United Construction, board Secretary Ed Ryan told the Call. Among other costs added to the contract with United is $28,000 for “a dry-pipe sprinkler system” mandated by Fire Marshal Ed Berkel.

Before bids were sought, board members agreed that the maximum cost of the new firehouse will be roughly $1.792 million — excluding the cost of the land. The cost of the one-story energy-efficient building with 6,554 square feet of space originally was estimated at $1.42 million.

Additional costs, including architectural and engineering fees, utility relocations, landscaping and furniture, fixtures and equipment, could total nearly $372,000.

The existing No. 2 firehouse, built in the 1950s in the 5600 block of Telegraph Road, is deteriorating and needs to be replaced, according to district officials.

The Board of Directors last year purchased the property for the new firehouse at the northeast corner of Telegraph Road and Whitshire Drive from Darrel D. “Dean” Climer of Oakville for $600,000.

The existing No. 2 firehouse will remain open during construction. Once the new firehouse is completed, the board plans to sell the old fire station and land.

In a separate matter last week, the board voted unanimously to approve a contract with Dr. Christopher Bosche, who was appointed May 15 to fill the district’s newly created in-house position of medical director of emergency medical services.

Bosche previously had served as Mehlville’s medical director when he was medical director of emergency medical services at St. Anthony’s Medical Center.

Bosche, who now works full time at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, will be paid $45,000 per year.

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