At Monday’s City Council meeting, Fire Chief John Wynn gave an update on and showed a sketch of the proposed fire station that will be on the triangle of property on University Parkway across from Northwestern State University (NSU).
The Council introduced an ordinance awarding the construction bid to Pat Williams Construction LLC for $3,253,000. The bid was the lowest of six submitted. The State awarded the City $1.8 million dollars for the station with the City’s hazard tax fund paying the remaining amount. Wynn said he will delay truck replacement since grants usually pay for new trucks. He now buys one truck at a time instead of three as in the past.
NSU owns the property on which the station will be built but the City will own the station. It will have two truck bays with trucks exiting onto University Parkway. The lot will also have general parking. But most important is that the new station will decrease response time.