By Curt Peterson
The Killington Select Board presented plans for the proposed new Public Services Building at a special meeting in the fire house Tuesday, Feb. 26.
On March 5 voters will be asked to authorize borrowing up to $4,775,000 to finance construction on a Killington Road parcel the town has already purchased. Chief Roth told The Mountain Times the current actual cost estimate is a little less than $4 million.
The new building will cover about 14,000 square feet and house the fire department, Search and Rescue team, Emergency Medical Technicians, all their equipment and trucks, administration space, and a separate section for the Killington Police Force, with a “sally port” to allow secure gated entry for a police vehicle. A 900 square feet community room will seat 50 – 60 people.
Citing the town’s isolation following Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, Haff pointed out space for a “command center” is included.
Five bays will house rolling stock.
“The building is designed to allow for easy expansion in the future,” Labare said. DEW has been chosen as construction manager.
Two water storage tanks will be accessible for filling truck tanks and serve the sprinkler system. A well will provide potable water, and the building will be connected to the municipal sewer system.
For roof design Sheib and Labare settled on a low-slope, black membrane surface that will carry withstand heavy Killington snow accumulations.
Buccellato said the largest single component in the construction project will be $800,000 for site work – cutting dirt from one side and using it to level the other. Pathways will serve as site work project managers.
The town plans to save money by doing its own tree removal. The Public Services Building Committee will continue to provide hands-on oversight of the project, approving all contractors and participating in any plan changes.
One resident asked about heating, electricity and propane costs for the new structure. Chief Roth pointed out in an average year all the doors of the fire house are opened 320 times to answer calls, letting all the heat out in minutes.
“It’s impossible to predict the cost of heating accurately,” Roth said. “What’s important is how quickly the system brings temperatures up to normal again.”
Labare and Sheib said state insulation requirements were exceeded in the design, so heating should be very efficient.
Another concern is carbon monoxide produced by the trucks. In the existing fire house an air exchanger sucks the fumes – and the heat – from the building when engines are running. In the new building hoses will connect directly to exhaust pipes, carrying fumes, but not heat, outside.
“Our goal is to produce a building that meets the client’s needs,” Labare said,” and is cost-efficient. I think we’ve designed such a building.”
Because most or all current town debt will be paid off as the public safety building bond payments begin, the new facility will not result in an increase in property tax rates.
Board members Patty McGrath and Jim Haff urged attendees to advise their friends and families to vote in favor of the project.
