Fire station work resumes

By Staff
Mitch Freeman Madison County Record
Construction of Fire Station No. 3 could resume within 30 days and could be complete around the end of June, according to Susan Klopfenstein, construction contracts manager for the City of Madison Engineering Department. "Our objective is to get back on track and complete the facility as quickly as possible," Klopfenstein said.
Klopfenstein explained that structural engineers are in the process of designing solutions that will resolve the structural design deficiencies responsible for halting construction work on the fire station January 3. Once the structural design drawings are finished and approved, Klopfenstein estimated that the fire station could be finished in 45-60 days, weather permitting. Chynoweth &Kennedy is the firm reworking the structural engineering.
Klopfenstein has taken action to help ensure that the project stays on track, once the construction work resumes. "We have obtained city council approval to contract mechanical and electrical engineers, if we need them," Klopfenstein said. She explained that obtaining prior approval puts the city in a position to move quickly, if the approval process has already been done.
Klopfenstein added that Aldridge and Ellis had previously been under contract to Mouzon &Associates. As a result of the contract termination between the City of Madison and Mouzon &Associates, there was no longer a link between the city and the engineers who did the original fire station engineering.
Dave Aldridge, the mechanical engineer and Oscar Ellis, the electrical engineer have been pre-approved for use of their services and that they will be used only if needed, Klopfenstein said. The mechanical engineer is responsible for heating, air conditioning (HVAC) and plumbing.