 | | | ConFire Assistant Chief Aaron McAlister updates the Lafayette City Council on Fire Station 16 progress. Photo Nick Marnell | | | | | | Despite a construction glitch that surfaced at the beginning of August, an official from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District told the Lafayette City Council Aug. 14 that Fire Station 16 should open as scheduled by the end of 2018.
Assistant Fire Chief Aaron McAlister told the council that the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District has delayed approval of the fire station plans because a neighboring property has a lateral sewer line on ConFire's property. "We knew about it, the architect knew about it, the civil engineer knew about it," McAlister said. "They want us to dig up the lateral to make sure it's where we say it is. That seems unreasonable."
According to Central San, an easement for a neighboring sewer lateral lies across the fire district property and Central San needs to confirm that the neighboring property will continue to have sewer access. "None of our requirements are unusual," said Chris Carpenter, a Central San representative. "We have to maintain service for the neighboring property."
McAlister said the county will not do a plan review on the project until the fire district receives every approval from every agency.
"Can you emphasize with the county how important this issue is, and to expedite it for the sake of public safety," said Council Member Cam Burks, who also asked for assurance that the county was still fully committed to the financing of the station. McAlister said that he believes ConFire has the full support of the board.
Supervisor Candace Andersen later provided further confirmation, noting that with property tax revenues rebounding and with the success of the ConFire-American Medical Response partnership to provide ambulance service, the fire district is in a far better place than it was five years ago when the board closed fire stations. "I am confident that the full of Board of Supervisors is supportive of the rebuilding of Fire Station 16," Andersen said. "Over the past year we have approved several expenditures for the design of the fire station which have been accompanied with estimated costs for construction. All votes have been unanimous in support."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA