New home approved for Berwick firefighting force

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

Smiles and lots of handshakes in the hallway summed up a $2.6 million decision to build Berwick’s new fire hall January 15.

Roscoe Construction of Cambridge won the contract with a $2.1 million design. Three other bidders came in with plans incorporating the fire services’ sub-committee’s ideas developed over the past two years, all around the $2 million mark but varying on basic tilt-up or metal structure construction.

Roscoe’s bid was “architecturally higher, and they have a little more experience with these types of buildings,” said ABL Environmental regional manager Mark Bouter, hired to manage the project through a request for proposals.

Local content counted for 15 points in a 100-point bid assessment, taking into consideration the bidder’s hometown and their intent to use local sub-contractors and buy materials in the community.

Along with quality, experience, aesthetics and a build schedule, Roscoe scored 55 out of a possible 60 points. Forty points were reserved for pricing; specifically, comparisons design offered and the value of any extras bidders may have included.

Mid-Valley Construction’s $2 million metal building, and Burnside’s JW Lindsay’s and BD Stevens’ tilt-up designs were also reviewed.

In a follow-up meeting with the fire services group (a mix of firefighters, town councillors and members of the Berwick Fire Commission), Roscoe described a $61,000 option to develop 400 square feet of space above the hall’s front entrance for storage and incorporate seven extra solar panels. It also donated a $14,000 sign for the hall.

The bid was formally endorsed at the January 15 session by Fire Chief Laurie Saunders and Fire Commission chairman Brian Hirtle before town council added its approval.

Roscoe expects to start spring construction and be done by the end of September.

Firefighter Ken Redden, who chaired the sub-committee, said the decision means a station residents “will be very proud of.

“They can be assured of a high level of fire services for the future.”

Saunders commended the sub-committee’s ability to listen to all the project partners, particularly the volunteer firefighters.

“We were allowed opinions in all decisions, and the sub-committee respected our ideas.

Hirtle said the 50/ 50 cost sharing of the project between the town and commission is a first, and everyone involved has a “great deal of respect for each other and their talents - it shows in the end result.”

Mayor John Prall acknowledged the fire hall project has “been a long time in development,” and he thanked past Fire Chief Stephen Palmer for getting the ball rolling, along with Redden, Steve McMahon, Mark Marchant, Saunders and the town’s own office worker and volunteer firefighter, Dianne Ashton.

“It’s been great to work with you and make sure what we need in a fire department is there.

“But, we’re not done - we have to build the building.”

The design incorporates many energy-saving measures, from extensive solar panels to run in-floor heating to a computerized shut-off to Berwick Electric’s grid during the utility’s peak demand periods.