LIHU‘E — County officials announced that two more capital improvement projects are slated to begin next month.
Notices to proceed were recently issued to Shioi Construction Inc. to build the county’s golf maintenance building and Unlimited Builders for the Kealia fire station, according to a county press release.
“We are very pleased that these CIP projects will soon be underway, which will create much-needed jobs and infuse money into the economy,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. in the release. “One of our top priorities is to look at ways that we can help to stimulate the economy particularly during these challenging times. Other projects are on the table, and as soon as things are firm, we will announce our plans for those projects.”
Groundbreaking for the Kealia fire station is scheduled on July 21.
The facility will be built along Kuhi‘o Highway between Friendship House and St. Catherine’s Cemetery.
Selection of the site was based on land availability and a Geographic Information System survey conducted by the fire department.
Previously owned by the state, the land for the station was transferred to the County through an executive order signed by Gov. Linda Lingle.
Kaua‘i Fire Chief Robert Westerman noted that the Kawaihau District will have two fire stations when the Kealia station is built.
“In planning for the future, we looked at the projected population growth on the island and determined that another station is needed in the Kawaihau district in order to safely meet response times for the community as well as our firefighters,” Westerman said in the release.
Fifteen firefighters covering three shifts will be assigned to the Kealia station, along with the HAZMAT team, who will be transferring from the Lihu‘e station.
In addition, the department’s mechanic as well as its Wellness and Fitness program coordinator will be based at the new station.
The Kealia facility will be 6,573 square feet, about the same size as the Koloa fire station, which was built in 1996 and is currently the newest fire station on the island.
Because of its proximity to the ocean, the station will have elements that are rust resistant including: aluminum roll-up doors; vinyl windows; and stainless steel framing connectors.
Construction costs for the Kealia fire station total $4.7 million. The project is being funded through a county bond float.
A separate energy project for the facility will be built with American Reinvestment and Recovery Act stimulus money through a $267,900 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The EECBG funds will be used to purchase and install a roof and/or ground mounted photovoltaic power system, which will be the first renewable energy system at a county facility.
The system is expected to reduce total facility energy use by approximately 40,740 kilowatt-hours of fossil-fueled generation per year.
Throughout the planning and design phases for the Kealia fire station, energy-efficiency was a priority, and elements designed to maximize the value of the PV power produced have been included in the plans, including: efficient lighting; building insulation; controls, switches and timers; efficiency air conditioning units; reflective exterior paint and solar water heating.
The Kealia fire station is expected to be completed in January 2011.
Also scheduled to break ground in July is the Wailua Golf Course maintenance building project.
A $1.67 million contract was awarded to Shioi Construction to re-build the facility, which was destroyed by a fire in October 2004.
About 50 percent of the project is funded by an insurance settlement, including reconstruction work along with improvements to meet current building safety codes, i.e. a septic system and hurricane resistant measures.
The rest of the funding is provided through a county bond.
The maintenance building, which is scheduled for completion in July 2010, will be 9,000 square feet. It will include a small engine repair and parts storage area, recycled water tool wash-down area, and a break room.
Another Public Works CIP project that began in January and is slated for completion in December involves hardening of the exterior walls as well as interior renovation of the Workforce Development Initiative Office located in the Lihu‘e Civic Center next to the Pi‘ikoi Building.
Called the “Fishbowl Project”, Shioi Construction was awarded a $584,900 contract to do the work.
Funding for the project is provided through a $381,727 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce — Economic Development Administration, $110,573 from the county bond fund, and $92,600 from the county general fund.
