Clint Wolf August 14, 2023

 

TOWN OF BELOIT 

Potential contractors have been invited to learn more about the Town of Beloit’s plans to build a new Fire Station 2 and Town Hall at a “Contractors Fair,” set for today, Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Town Administrator Tim Wellnitz, said the Contractors Fair is being held to explain the bidding process, as well as the specifics of the construction project. Wellnitz expects contracts for plumbing, electrical work and general construction will be part of the project.

The Town of Beloit Board of Supervisors approved moving forward with a plan to raze Fire Station 2 at 1143 Inman Parkway and rebuild the fire station with a portion of the building to be the new Town Hall. The foundation of the fire station will not be demolished, and will be built upon as the new building goes up.

The Board of Supervisors authorized the borrowing of up to $2.35 million at an interest rate not to exceed 4.2% for the Town Hall portion of the construction, Wellnitz said. He said the total cost of the Town Hall portion of the project is estimated at about $3.15 million. The Town Board has approved using just over $800,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the Town Hall portion of the project.

The fire station portion of the project is expected to be covered by a $7.675 million Neighborhood Investment Grant that was awarded by the Wisconsin Department of Administration.

Wellnitz said the demolition of Fire Station 2 is expected to take place sometime this fall and the new fire station and town hall is expected to be completed by the end of next year. It is a condition of the grant that the construction project be completed by the end of 2024.

Town staff and officials moved out of the former Town Hall in 2019. Since then, most town offices have moved to Fire Station 1 at 2445 S. Afton Road. Town board meetings also have been held at Fire Station 1.

The township community development director and the code enforcement officer maintain offices at Fire Station 2, but those staff members will have to move into Fire Station 1 during the demolition and reconstruction project.

“We can make it work,” Wellnitz said about moving the additional staff members into Fire Station 1.

He added that building the new Town Hall as an addition to the new fire station was the most cost efficient option.

“We found out it would be about double the cost,” Wellnitz said about building a free-standing Town Hall.

Town officials do not plan to hold a ground breaking ceremony before construction begins on the project, but they do plan to have a ceremony once the project is complete. Wellnitz said it is a project that all town officials are looking forward to.

“By the time it is built, it will have been five years since we had a town hall,” Wellnitz said.

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