• Budget Information
• History
• Facts & Issues

Budget information

FUNDING SOURCE: 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Anticipated GIRMA insurance payment for covered damage to Station #6

HISTORY

• Fire Stations #2 (3500 Atlanta Highway) and #6 (580 Athena Drive) where built in 1981 and are the two oldest stations still being operated by the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government.
• In the winter of 1983-84, an excessive snow accumulation caused the roof to fail over the Engine Bay portion at Station #2. The roof was repaired with additional bracing at the beam/column connection.
• Stations #2 and #6 experienced severe roof deflection over the living quarters due to ice loading in the winter of 1988-89, sufficient to cause the stations to be vacated. Repairs to reinforce the roofs on both stations were made by inserting additional columns.
• On March 1, 2009, Station #6 received damage due to excessive snow accumulation on the roof. This caused a collapse of the roof structure over the Engine Bay portion of the station, making this station uninhabitable. Station #6 firefighters were relocated to Station 9. Station #2 was constructed with the same materials and engineering principles and techniques as Station 6. However, no structural damage occurred during the March snow storm.
• On February 17, 2009, Congress approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This legislation included an appropriation of $210 million to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for local government fire station construction projects. This program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Program Office on a competitive basis.
• On April 7, 2009, the M&C approved the proposed ARRA project list and authorized the Manager to submit ARRA funding applications as the opportunities become available in accordance with submission guidelines. The replacement of Fire Stations #2 and #6 were included on the list of approved projects.
• On July 7, 2009 the M&C approved the submission of the application. The application was submitted on July 10, 2009
• The Unified Government did not receive funding in any of the first three rounds of funding in 2009-2010.

FACTS & ISSUES

• The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for fire station construction is awarded to fire departments to replace unsafe and uninhabitable structures and to build or modify existing fire stations to enhance firefighter safety and response capability.
• Initial engineering reports on the damage to Station 6 indicate that the supporting engineered structure was not capable of withstanding the imposed loads caused by the March snow storm.
• The engineering report further stated that the retrofitted bracing to the roof at Station #2 would not support a similar load if imposed. Although Station #2 is not currently scheduled for replacement, the age of the structure, the lack of an energy efficient design, and the potential for damage in future storms suggest that ACCUG should replace this station.
• Fire Department staff is working with SPLOST staff to refine the costs to rebuild these stations. The AGF does not require cost sharing. However, applicants who contribute toward the project receive higher consideration than applicants who rely solely on grant funding. ACCUG anticipated receiving up to $700,000 from GIRMA as payment for covered damages that occurred during the March snow storm. These funds will be applied toward the cost of building the two (2) stations. The Unified Government must notify GIRMA within 120 days if it plans to accept payment or request that GIRMA repair the stations.
• These two (2) stations will be constructed to the same LEED certification level as Station #9. An evaluation of Station #9’s energy consumption compared to other stations reflects a minimum 25% electrical energy savings.