May 15, 2023 at 3:59 p.m.
Council takes first step toward possible consolidated municipal building
The various municipal departments currently housed in City Hall could be moved to a new building that could also be a new home for the city's fire and police departments, according to information presented to the council during its May 8 meeting.
The impetus for the discussion is the condition of the building that has housed the fire and police department for decades.
Fire Chief Brian Tonnancour presented the council with a proposal for design services submitted by DesignTech LLC of Rhinelander compiled following a walk-through of the building.
"The client, Rhinelander Fire Department, is considering the construction of a new public safety building that would consolidate Fire, Police, EMS and City Hall," the DesignTech proposal reads. "To assist in the decision-making process, we propose developing a program statement identifying all the required spaces for each facility that would allow the FD to get a better idea of the size of such a proposed structure and how much land might be required."
The "scope of services" proposed by Design Tech includes meeting with department personnel to establish current spaces and future needs, enumeration and tabulation of required spaces for each department to yield the proposed area of each building, consideration of proposed locations for a new structure, a pre-design report, and consideration/recommendation of design process.
The cost of services was listed at $2,500.
Among other things, Tonnancour noted that there are issues with the floor of the stalls where ambulances are kept and the HVAC system is such that firefighters are forced to sleep in 80-degree temperatures.
When Gov. Tony Evers toured the 46-year-old station last fall, Tonnancour noted the sleeping quarters are too hot in the winter and freezing in the summer.
As the council voted two weeks ago to purchase an HVAC unit for the fire department, the River News asked Tonnancour to explain.
"The council's vote for the HVAC system in the Fire Department side is only to repair a unit that recently went out of service," he explained in response to email request for clarification. "It does not solve our HVAC woes. It will help to keep our bunk rooms cooler, but this is simply a temporary solution to a long-term issue."
During the meeting, the fire chief told the alderpersons it's a matter of time before other options must be considered.
"At some point in time we have to say enough is enough with putting money into these buildings," he told the council, adding that the current building "no longer serves the needs of the fire department and I'm sure (Police Chief) Lloyd (Gauthier) would be able to attest the police department no longer serves their needs either."
"I think it would be irresponsible of me to sit here and tell you that I need a new fire station and that's it. I think the more responsible thing to do for the city is to start looking at a consolidated municipal building which would be police, fire, EMS and City Hall. This design proposal gives us an opportunity to sit down with DesignTech and figure what that need is for us, to figure out what the footprint is, to start sourcing land to look at what we need and what it would cost us to go in that direction."
The DesignTech proposal describes the current building as approximately 16,500 square feet of Type IIIB unprotected masonry.
"The building consists of many additions over the years beginning when the original structure, then a vocational shop building, was converted to a fire station. In 1977, a police department addition was constructed to the east and in 2000 an apparatus bay was constructed to the west. A major addition was constructed to the west in 2009, and a dormitory addition on the north side was constructed in 2011," according to the proposal.
Tonnancour told the council that he is very willing to "put in the time and effort" to seek out grants so that the project would have "as little budgetary impact on the taxpayers as possible."
In response to a question posed by Mayor Kris Hanus regarding the $2,500 quote, Tonnancour said the funds would come out of the fire department's building maintenance budget.
Alderman Gerald Anderson was the only council member to ask a question about the proposal. He wanted to know if the focus was solely on a "new building of some sort" or if there was some consideration of doing work in phases.
Tonnancour responded that this proposal is focused on a new building.
Alderman Tom Barnett made the motion to approve the quote for design services. It passed unanimously.
In an interview following the meeting, Hanus said there are a number of questions the council will need to consider including how much space would be needed if the city were to move forward with the construction of building that would need to last for 40 to 60 years and what would be an appropriate location considering the need to ensure prompt fire and EMS response times as well as a visible location for the other departments.
"I see the value of a well-designed complex that has the ability to expand police and fire," he said, noting that the council will ultimately make the call as to whether to move forward with this concept. "I think the council is open to looking into it and $2,500 is not a lot in the scheme of things."
The public is encouraged to watch the entire discussion which is available to view at www.hodagtv.com.
The DesignTech proposal is available as part of the council meeting packet on the city website, www.rhinelandercityhall.org.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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