The Andalusia City Council this week has voted to start the process of rehabilitating the fire department’s building, which will result in an updated exterior along with improvements in the interior.
Plans for the structure located on Church Street in the downtown area will include a brand new façade and a revamp of the living areas which were deemed to be outdated and not up to date by the officials.
The resolution, which was approved on Tuesday permits the city to sign an arrangement with Concordia Architecture to provide renderings required to begin the project. The price for Architectural renderings will be $22,750. It will take approximately four weeks.
After renderings have been completed after which the project can move into the bid phase to determine the work that needs to be carried out.
Concordia has collaborated in partnership with City Hall on several downtown projects, such as providing plans for the construction of the new Heritage Park.
The fire department’s project will be funded with the proceeds of the 2022 $11 million bond issue.
The Mayor Earl Johnson said the new facade will closely match the style of the city hall and make room for firefighters.
“Updating to the structure will result in an enormous benefit to our firefighters as well as for our community,” Johnson said. “Our residents are all the building right now, and this will allow them with enough space.”
At any given moment there are anywhere from 6-7 firefighters who are boarding at the facility of the fire department.
Police officers will also receive an update when they buy bodies cameras that are new.
Officer Chief Paul Hudson said the current body cameras were bought in 2015 and upgraded since then, but the software isn’t working properly and even lost some footage.
The head of the department advised is to purchase the Axon camera system. The cost is to be paid for over a period of five years. The first year will be the most expensive due to the set-up expenses. The initial price is $66,300. This includes unlimited storage of video. The following year, the price will be reduced to $33,300. The plan also offers the most recent camera models available after two and one-half years.
The mayor said that the adequate cameras is crucial to the officers and to the entire community.
“I believe that these cameras are essential because of two reasons. It first keeps an eye on what’s taking place to the officers of our department. Also secondly, it tracks what our officers are doing. It is both ways in which it can be a useful tool that our police force can use. Our officers are required to keep the camera turned on as they depart the police department. We would like the cameras to be to be on at all times,” Johnson said.
Other issues that were discussed by the council comprised:
- approved abatement for 10 nuisance properties
- A transportation plan was approved in accordance with the law of Rebuild Alabama plan, which offers funding to cities via the gas tax. The plan approved by the city stipulated that there are no planned projects in the moment that benefit from the funds, however officials stated that once a project is identified that the plan will be revised.
- The surplus of hand radios for police which are not in use in order to be sold.
Next council session is scheduled for Tuesday September. 5 6 p.m. in the city hall. There will be the work session starting at 5:45 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.
The article City Council initiates Andalusia Fire Department renovation plan was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
