Bids in on New Fire Station
"I think it will be the last fire house that Ocracoke will need to have," said volunteer firefighter Ernest Doshier, who sits on both the Ocracoke Fire Protection Association board and the building board for the new structure. "We've been trying to think long term, and looking at a 50 to 75 year building."
Bids from five contractors were due on January 8, and the OFPA board will "talk to all of our members before we make the final decision," said Doshier. He anticipates the new fire house will cost around 1.3 million. The building group visited fire houses all along the Outer Banks to decide which design features suited Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department's needs and budget.
Rather than going with a cheaper metal construction, it will be stick built or block construction. The advantages of spending more money are both practical and aesthetic. The design the building group decided on "is a bomb shelter," and care was taken that it look as nice as possible.
"Imagine a building like the gym right there in the middle of everything on Highway 12," said Doshier. While it is "going to look big up there on that pile of sand," the OFPA wants to "make it hospitable for our neighbors."
The OFPA has over $900,000 in a building fund, and will borrow the difference in construction costs from East Carolina Bank. The group explored a USDA loan at 4% interest, but decided to work with ECB after they offered a lower rate, around 3%. USDA loans require a lot of bureaucratic paperwork, with frequent audits, said Doshier. The better rate, local service, and less hassle made ECB financing the right fit for the OFPA.
Property donated by the Hutcherson family on Highway 12 has been filled and compacted, and is ready for construction. In September, 2012 FEMA raised the minimum elevation in coastal flood zones, requiring the OFPA to budget for further filling. After seeing the scum line from Hurricane Sandy, "maybe another 24 inches is not a bad thing," said Doshier.
In December, 2012, "The state told us we could get sand out of the north end dredge pile, and they gave us two weeks to get it done," explained Doshier. Although the time frame created a bit of a bind, the decision was made to "go ahead and do it now." Ocracoke resident Mike Johnson was able to do the work on short notice, and the site is at the 7 foot minimum elevation dictated by FEMA. If structures are not raised to their standards, FEMA can deny the county federal relief funds after disasters.
The new fire house will greatly expand on the 1966 building on Back Road which now houses the department. There will be three full sized bays and one brush truck bay. The plans include offices, training rooms, meeting spaces, a great deal of additional storage, a kitchen, toilets, showers, and room for a back up generator that the department currently lacks. An attic space of approximately 50' by 20' allows for future expansion.
People have said, "'Why not just build a one story building?'" said Doshier. The attic space means "we don't have to rip the roof off the building," saving the department money down the road, he explained.
Plans for an improved facility have been at least seven years in the making. A proposal to expand the current building was scrapped in favor of new construction on the larger site.
"Back when there was that Obama money around" the building board applied for a federal grant, said Doshier. The estimated costs for those plans was 2.2 million. The building grew so large in order to meet the grant requirements, like a berthing area for firefighters, an elevator, and eco-friendly materials and design. Ocracoke was denied the grant.
"We just didn't qualify based on population," said Doshier. He is confident the planned building, cheaper by almost $1 million in bells and whistles, will suit Ocracoke's fire protection needs just fine.
The building fund has grown steadily through a yearly bequest from Occupancy Tax Funds. In 2012 it was $80,000; in 2011 it was $70,000.
A Firemen's Ball, held over Memorial Day weekend, has been organized by volunteers Steph and Larry Ihle for the past seven years. With the all-volunteer workforce and donated entertainment, the event now nets over $50,000 annually.
"Larry Ihle's been helping us through this whole process, from the first fundraiser with the Dune Dogs," said Doshier. "He offered to let us work under his contractors license if we wanted to sub this out ourselves."
The savings in acting as their own subcontractors was not sufficient to offset the liability the organization would incur.
"There was a minimal amount of difference, and we decided not to have the department take the risk. We put it out for a bid," said Doshier. Ihle's bid will be considered along with four other construction companies, including A. Elks construction, which completed a renovation on the Berkley Manor in 2012.
Quible and Associates of Southern Shores engineered the drainage, septic and poured concrete floor for the site.
Linda Ihle drew all the conceptual plans for the fire department, and the final drawings were done by Hite Associates, a Greenville architecture and engineering firm. Linda received a gift from the OFPA, but most of her time over her four year involvement with the project was donated.
Hite Associates also donated unbilled hours. "We knew Jimmy from Greenville, and were asking about stuff in general," said Doshier. The initial conversations led to a formal relationship.
A big question on the minds of many is where Bingo will take place.
"We ain't building a bingo hall, we're building a fire department," said Doshier wryly. Down the road an elevator could be added and the 50' by 20' attic space could be utilized for bingo. Until then, the Community Center could host the weekly summertime event; or the trucks could be pulled out of the bay. "With no a/c, it'll be like the old days," said Doshier.
Bingo brings in $9,000 to $10,000 each year, and while it requires a huge investment of time from a large group of volunteers, the department recognizes that it is popular with both locals and tourists.
The new building can also serve as an emergency response center during crises, said Doshier. With a back up generator it will be a place for EMS to work out of, and for residents to have a warm bowl of soup. Meeting spaces will be available for local groups as well.
The final decision about who will be rewarded the contract will be made soon, by both the building board and OFPA board. The building board includes Chair Doshier, Fire Chief Albert O'Neal, Dick Jacoby, John Ferrara, David Scott Esham, Sharon Miller, and George Roberson.
The OFPA board will elect a member at large later this month, and includes Dick Jacoby, Janey Jacoby, Teresa O'Neal, and Doshier.
