City sends requests for proposals for firehouse

The city of Vermilion has sent requests for design/build proposals for its new Fire Station No. 1 to be located on Devon Drive and Douglas Street. Mayor Jim Forthofer said during a Feb. 25 City Council meeting that out of 10 responses for the city’s request for qualifications from design/build firms interested in building the station, three were selected to send proposals. The three firms chosen during a Feb. 19 Firehouse Committee meeting are Greenspace Construction Services in Cleveland, Thomas & Marker Construction in Columbus and Bellefontaine and Janotta & Herner in Monroeville. “These three candidates have been sent requests for design/build proposals for the new firehouse project, consistent with (fire) Chief (Chris) Stempowski’s requirements and, of course, the proposed price,” Forthofer said during the meeting. Included in Stempowski’s requirements were a training room, inside drying rack, decontamination station, additional beds, command center, cleaning station and expansion room in addition to the rooms and resources already provided at the current Station No. 1, located at 5467 Ohio St. These proposals for build/design are due March 9, he said. Additionally, Forthofer provided an estimated timeline of preparation and construction of the firehouse during the Council meeting. From March 11-14, interviews will be conducted of the short-listed firms. On April 1, the preferred design/builder will be selected by the Firehouse Committee then submitted to Council for approval April 8. Contract negotiations with the design/builder will be finalized April 15 and services will commence. By Jan. 20, 2020 Forthofer said the station is scheduled for completion. The firehouse is expected to cost $3.7 million, which will be paid for using the city’s fire levy capital fund with an additional borrowing of $2 million from incoming tax flow.