Sedona’s sixth fire station is proposed for the Chapel area and estimated to cost between $2 million and $2.5 million, according to Fire Chief Matt Shobert.
Whether the operation should be paid for entirely up front or with a large down payment and the remainder financed was discussed at the Sedona Fire District’s public budget workshop March 22.
The building will be designed by LEA Architects, led by Lawrence Enyart, whose firm has designed many fire stations, receiving numerous awards for design quality and innovation.
By Susan Johnson
Larson Newspapers
Sedona’s sixth fire station is proposed for the Chapel area and estimated to cost between $2 million and $2.5 million, according to Fire Chief Matt Shobert.
Whether the operation should be paid for entirely up front or with a large down payment and the remainder financed was discussed at the Sedona Fire District’s public budget workshop March 22.
The building will be designed by LEA Architects, led by Lawrence Enyart, whose firm has designed many fire stations, receiving numerous awards for design quality and innovation.
Enyart participates in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection and indoor environmental quality.
In addition to using a sustainable infrastructure, the station’s landscaping will model fire-wise horticulture, incorporating a defensible border and plants that resist ignition, providing on-site training opportunities for SFD and residents in the district, according to Gary Johnson, SFD public information officer.
If the district pays the entire amount for construction and landscaping up front out of capital improvement funds, it will deplete its reserves, leaving little in the coffers for other projects, according to projections made by SFD Administrative and Finance Manager Sandi Schmidt.
Construction costs for the Chapel station are only one part of the equation — a gradual build-up in staffing would see three new firefighters in this year’s budget and three more next year.
Two other major expenditures listed highest in priority after the Chapel station are re-vamping the SFD Regional Communications Center and relocating Fire Station No. 5 in Oak Creek Canyon further north along Hwy. 89A.
The communications center is considered critical for emergency response as well as for its income-generating capability.
The Station No. 5 move is considered necessary to ensure rapid response to emergencies in Oak Creek Canyon.
Susan Johnson can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 129 or e-mail sjohnson@larsonnewspapers.com
