After lengthy discussion, the City Council on Monday approved putting a $4.5 million bond for a new fire station on the ballot in November.
The bond will help cover the cost of the new fire station to be built adjacent to the new Transit Center in Issaquah.
The cost of the new building is estimated at $7.6 million.
The remainder of the cost, not covered by the bond, will be paid for by the city of Issaquah and Fire District 10.
The city of Issaquah already paid $1 million for the transit center construction project in exchange for the land.
Over the past 20 years, several locations for the new station were suggested before city officials settled on the site at the Transit Center.
After the site was identified, staff members and architects from TCA Architecture and Planning began working on a design plan, including some trimming down of the original plan to cut costs, Chief Lee Soptich said.
“Chief Collins is pretty good,” Soptich said. “He’s been putting it on the treadmill.”
He also voiced confidence in his department’s estimates for the total cost of the project, citing their great track record with their own budget.
“We don’t make a habit of coming back and to nickel and dime you,” he added. “I am very confident in our staff and TCA.”
For almost a decade, station 72 has been working out of a temporary fire station. The temporary station has a limited amount of housing for the fire vehicles as well as a doublewide trailer that serves as the offices and housing for the crew stationed there. The temporary station has already exceeded its planned five-year life span.
The original agenda only called for $4 million in bonds, but council members said they felt that it was better to be safe than sorry in terms of funding.
“There’s always going to be risk,” Councilman Fred Butler said. “The bond issue needs to be enough. We don’t have to use it all, but it’s got to be there.”
The city has until Aug. 12 to file the bond with the King County Elections office to be put on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.
Kyra Low can be reached at klow@reporternewspapers.com or 391-0363, ext. 5052.
