Hefty Price Tag For Fire Station Makeover

BROOKSVILLE - The price tag for Spring Hill's fire station off Whitewood Avenue would go up another $25,880 if county commissioners today approve no less than four new change orders from the contractor doing renovations on the facility.

This would bring the total number of change orders to 11 since the project was started less than two years ago.

If approved, the total contract for station renovations would be $1.4 million.

In April 2006, county commissioners awarded the renovation contract to Dunedin-based Bandes Construction Co. Inc. for $1.3 million.

The original work scope included renovating the existing fire station and adding an apparatus bay and living quarters.

In November and December 2007, commissioners approved seven pay requests from Bandes.

County Commissioner David Russell said the work on Station 3 is already completed and the county has no choice but to pay these newest change orders.

However, he questions how change orders were allowed to be submitted after the fact. Typically, they are approved before the contractor is permitted to do the work.

"There's a process and it doesn't appear the procedure has been adhered to," Russell said. "The whole project was just ungainly."

These latest four change orders would cover the following:

$524.60 for the relocation of two electrical switches that had already been installed

$9,118 for an additional parking lot in the front of the station

$15,013 for miscellaneous changes

$1,225 for more miscellaneous changes

The county hopes to recoup $52,000 of the total amount because the original building was not built as specified.

Spring Hill Fire Station No. 3 is located at the corner of Spring Hill Drive and Whitewood Avenue and is one of the district's newest facilities.

Originally built in 1985, the station underwent a makeover starting in 1996 because of cramped accommodations for firefighters.

Today, the facility is hailed as one of the district's finest, with its brick facade and electronic message board in front.

However, the constant change orders have been a bone of contention among fire commissioners.

Fire Commissioner Robert Giammarco referred to the project as a "white elephant" during the district's Nov. 28 meeting.

Giammarco said some of these change orders should have been in the original plans and questioned where the time frames of the architect and project manager.

Today's county commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.

Also at today's meeting:

Planning Director Ron Pianta will discuss amending the county's land development and subdivision regulations.

Bob Clifford, with the Florida Department of Transportation, will give a presentation on the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority.

County Engineer Charles Mixson will discuss road closures because of CXS railroad work.

Interim County Administration Larry Jennings will discuss the 2009 budget.