Mayor, fire chief present fire station proposal to city council

by Dan Holland

Feb. 3 city council work session

Broadview Heights Mayor Sam Alai and Fire Chief Jeff Hajek, during a Feb. 3 council work session, presented a proposal for a new fire station to members of city council and residents in attendance. 

A series of public meetings for a proposed $14 million, 23,000-square-foot fire station and headquarters, to be built on city campus, were previously held at city hall and at the city’s two fire stations.

In May 2022, a charter amendment ballot issue failed at the polls that would have raised the fire and EMS levy in the city to build a proposed 24,350-square-foot, $11.5 million station and headquarters. 

Plans based on recommendations from a study conducted by the Center for Public Safety in 2021 called for a six-bay double-depth station that would include administrative offices, an equipment bay, training room, mezzanine area, training tower, ten bunk rooms and support rooms. 

In November 2021, the city authorized an agreement with Van Auken Akins Architects LLC to provide architectural services for the project. 

Alai explained that a new ladder truck, ambulance, additional manpower and equipment have been added to the department over time, with a new station being the final step.

Fire Station 1, at 3591 E. Wallings Rd., which serves as the current headquarters, opened in 1963. Fire Station 2, at 9455 Broadview Rd., opened in 1973.

“In today’s numbers, this station built the way it is designed, should be just under $14 million,” Alai explained. “We have $2.5 million in the fire station fund now, and I’m asking council to transfer $11.5 million from the general fund into the fire station fund, which would leave $8 miillon in the general fund balance.”

The issue will not go back before voters, but it will need approval from city council. 

Ward 1 Council Representative Tom Pavlica asked Alai if $8 miilion in the general fund would be sufficient in case of an emergency.

“There was $1.2 million in the general fund when I became mayor,” Alai responded. “If something happens, the city has insurance policies in place to cover if something goes wrong. The $8 million is for projects or things we want to do.”

“The original design was $9 million, then it became $10.2 million, and then we were at $11.2 million,” said Councilperson Joe Price. “And, with prices going up, we are now looking at $14 million. And council set aside money specifically for this project. … Adding a building that is six times larger than what we would be replacing is a struggle that I’m having with this, so you haven’t sold me on this yet.”

Price said he asked Hajek last year to show him what the city could build for $8 million.

“In 2002, the cost was $3.7 million,” said Alai. “When we had [the Center for Public Safety] come out, they came back to us with a 28,000-square-foot building at an approximate cost of $10 million, pre-Covid. Then Covid came, and we looked at things again that cost much more. Post-Covid, we’re now at $14 million for that same building.”

“We can’t go back to 2022 when it failed at the polls, and we can’t go back to $10 million pre-COVID; we can only talk about what we have today,” he continued. “I think the fiscally responsible thing today is to build this fire station in the manner it needs to be built for future generations before the costs get out of hand.”

“There were 31 roads identified that we talked about needing work, and we’ve only talked about doing nine or ten; maybe now twelve or thirteen,” said Price. “So, there are other needs in the city, and we all need to be mindful of that.”

“To talk about the road fund; you’re right – they all need to be done,” said Alai. “But they don’t all need to be done this year; that’s why we have a program. Out of the 31, we will keep cycling those out, and that’s why we have put more money into the roads fund and these other funds.”

If a new station is built, Station 1 would remain in service and be renovated to meet current firefighting standards that require separate hot, warm and cold zones. Station 2 would be razed.

Councilperson Glenn Goodwin asked if costs and plans are in place for renovations to Station 1 should a new station be built.

“We will create those three zones, and we’re talking about remodeling,” added Alai. “We’re not going to be tearing down load-bearing walls and adding on …  to open that station up to be able to have those zones.”

“So, you have a financial plan and an architectural drawing for what you’re going to do?” asked Goodwin.

“We do not, and that’s putting the cart before you build the road; let alone the horse,” answered Alai. 

Goodwin said he felt a number of infrastructure projects should first be addressed in the city. He added that he would like to see voters decide on the transfer of funding for the proposed station.

“We did go to the voters twice,” said Alai. “In 2002, well before I was a member of city council or mayor, the voters said no. In 2022, in the middle of Covid, they voted no, and I understand that completely. But you’re talking about going to the voters when we would be paying cash.”

“There’s money being spent on other things in addition to roads, but in 62 years, we haven’t spent any money on a fire station other than maintenance,” added Hajek.

Ward 4 council representative Brian Dunlap asked what the city’s total outstanding debt would be if all creditors “called in their markers.”

Finance Director David Pfaff said there is currently a total of $6.1 million in outstanding debt.

Resident comments

“A couple years back when you said ‘let’s build a new fire station,’ I was all for it; I thought it was a good idea to protect our people,” said resident Tom Ekstrand. “But after seeing the plans for this Taj Mahal, it’s a waste of money.”

“It did not pass when we voted on it, and I think something like this should go to another vote,” he continued. “It is not working well with me, and that’s a lot of money. For council to sit here and approve it without going to the people is crazy.”

“I think we need this fire station, and I think in coming years, we’re going to need it much more than we need it today,” commented Mike Brinkman. “I think it’s foolish to wait another year to allocate the funds to get this done, because next year, it’s not going to cost $14 million – it will be 18 or 20 million.”Tony Dalesio, a retired assistant fire chief for the city of Parma, stressed the need for a new station to be built. “In the 30 years since I started in EMS, the amount of equipment, training and advanced procedures, that would have only been done by emergency room physicians, we can do in your house now,” he said. “Every new emergency that comes up; the fire department is asked to deal with that – hazardous materials, active shooter, anthrax, COVID – all of these things. And we don’t know what will be coming in the future. The fire departments will be tasked in dealing with all of those things.”

Photo Caption: Fire Chief Jeff Hajek looks on as Mayor Sam Alai explains the layout of the proposed fire station. Photo by Dan Holland.