Fire station on track to finish on time

By Trevor Jones, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Updated: 01/04/2009 06:50:45 AM EST

Sunday, January 04
GREAT BARRINGTON — It may have taken years for the project to get off the ground, but it appears the town's new fire station will be ready on — or ahead of — schedule.

Construction of a new $9.48 million fire station — which will be located along State Road in Great Barrington — is on track, according to those involved with the project. And there are hopes the Fire Department can be moved into the new location by November, replacing the department's century-old station on Castle Street.

"Ahead of schedule and under budget is my goal," said John Varones of JVP Consulting LLC, which is overseeing the project.

And while Varones did not want to give a specific time frame for work completion, he does anticipate work will be done before the scheduled completion deadline of December.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in August, and while Fire Chief Harry Jennings said construction got off to a late start due to contract finalizations, he is pleased with the pace of the construction and would like to be in the building in time for a chief's meeting that will be held in late November, adding that the facility will be something both the town and the department can be proud of.

The station's concrete foundation has already been set, and the structural steel will begin to be installed this month. From there, precast exterior wall panels will be put up in the early spring and the
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majority of the work will then be done inside the facility, according to Varones.

Plans for a new fire station have been in the works for more than a decade, but concerns over cost and location derailed several proposals. Voters approved funds for the current project in 2007, and although there were concerns from some about the project being finished on time and within the approved funds, those involved with the project said things are running smoothly.

"We're ahead of schedule in a couple of areas and right on track in others," said Varones. "I'm anticipating a relatively trouble-free process."

And as the construction proceeds as planned, a proposed staffing change will not occur this year.

The new facility will feature a kitchen and living quarters that were put into the plans so the department could eventually hire full-time employees. But Jennings said that idea has been shelved, as he will not make any requests for new employees this year.