Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
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FHD board members reviewed the plan, for which bids were opened a couple of weeks earlier, and decided not alter the design to trim costs.
Cost of the project from Berry and Clay of Rusk is $520,700.
The board met with Robert Layton of East Texas Medical Center and Chuck Goldsmith of Fitzpatrick Butler, to look at ways to save money before deciding to proceed.
The new FEMS facility is to be built on the west edge of hospital property along FM 27, utilizing metal frame construction with brick veneer.
Included in the 3,600-square-foot building are office space, sleeping quarters for ambulance attendants and three ambulance bays.
After opening bids two weeks ago, the FHD board asked Layton to find ways to trim costs, which he reported on last week.
Costs savings, Layton reports, could be achieved by moving the building north toward W. Main Street (access would then be from Main), eliminating one bay and deleting the brick veneer.
Moving the building back to W. Main would save $35,000 in paving, site work and utility connection costs, deleting brick would save $40,000 and eliminating a bay would trim another $70,000.
Drawbacks to making the changes are that ambulance traffic would be directed into a residential neighborhood, eliminating a bay would leave an ambulance exposed to weather and deleting brick would affect the building’s appearance.
The hospital district has set aside $270,000 for the project and ETMC is contributing $75,000, plus architectural services, leaving a difference of $175,000.
ETMC Fairfield administrator Raz Cook points out that costs to construct a public use building run higher than for a private facility. For example, fire code regulations are more stringent in a public facility with overnight quarters, Americans With Disabilities guidelines must be met and additional building codes apply to an emergency medical facility.
Layton notes that steel frame construction is more expensive than wood frame construction as is used in most residences and many private office buildings.
“We will continue to see if there are any further savings,” Layton says.
“We are continually shocked every day over construction costs,” he adds.
A motion to award the bid to Berry Clay, following the original plans, was made by Dr. J.H. Keller and seconded by Sherry Brackens. FHD board members voted 5-1 for the contract, with David Lott opposing.
Berry Clay was the contractor chosen by the hospital district board to build the front entrance canopy completed earlier this year.