11-23-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Old Fire Hall Discussion: Council Member McGraw also suggested some additional input on the future costs facing the Old Fire Hall and our uses for this building. The Old Fire Hall is currently used as a rental hall downstairs and equipment storage upstairs. The annual operating costs were $7800 in 2013, $8700 in 2014, and were budgeted to be $10,600 in 2015, but the final numbers are not in yet. It is probably safe to assume that the annual operating costs will continue to run in the neighborhood of $10,000 per year going forward. Below is a summary of other potential costs. - The HVAC equipment is all in pretty good shape and will be monitored annually. There is no reason to believe anything will need to be replaced in the next five years. - The roof was given a clean bill of health in the fall of 2014 by a roofing contractor. So the scheduled replacement of half of the roof was moved from 2015 to 2018, when it will be inspected again to determine if it needs to be replaced. That cost is estimated at $35,000. - The vinyl baseboard in the Old Fire Hall needs to be replaced. It is anticipated that this work will cost about $1000. - The kitchen was recently remodeled and upgraded with new appliances. Everything should be fiinctional for the next several years. - The driveway and parking area has been repaved within the last five years so it is in good shape. The possibility of a driveway on the east side of the building has been presented in the budget. It would help the flow of vehicles through the bottom parking lot. Currently cars have to turn around and head back out on the west side and it is difficult to do so when vehicles are coming down the hill to get to park. With a driveway on both sides vehicles could enter on the west side and exit on the east side. The estimated cost for this work is $20,000. It does not have to be added but would make the lot work better for those times when lower parking is in play (rentals). - The brick on the front of the building is flaking off and needs to be replaced. The estimate for the work is $85,000. Staff has discussed other options including stucco and exterior insulation and finishing system (EIFS). Staff could get pricing for those options if the council was comfortable going with something other than brick. Some people may feel brick is needed to maintain the "historical character" of the building, but that can be debated. - Staff is looking into adding security cameras to the Old Fire Hall, skateboard park, and ice rink. The current estimate for cameras on the grounds is $10,000. That will be refined over the winter as all potential sites are looked at more closely. Even if the building was gone, we may still want a security camera presence in that area. The upper portion of the Old Fire Hall was formerly the Parks Maintenance shop. Parks Maintenance has moved into the new Public Works facility so the Old Fire Hall space is being used for the seasonal storage of equipment as well as the long term storage of the ballfield striper (due to the messy nature of the machine and the paint used) and other seldom -used equipment. In the summer all of the plows and sanders can be stored there. In the winter all of the lawn mowers, utility vehicles, the pothole patcher, and other equipment used in the summer can be stored there. It allows for more space to maneuver in the new shop and eliminates clutter. In addition, the rink sweeper and