Burnet on track to get new fire station
JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — A new fire station finally might be coming to Burnet.
The City Council awarded the winning $2.1 million bid to Teal Construction during a special meeting March 7.
Burnet officials have been working to build a new fire station at 2002 U.S. 281 South after outgrowing the current facility.
City manager David Vaughn said construction could begin sometime in April after the contractor receives notice to proceed.
The project has been slow moving for issues ranging from meeting state and federal building requirements to changing needs for the station.
The project’s budget increased from about $1.5 million last year to the final bid from Teal Construction.
Vaughn said the increased price tag, however, still comes at a great value.
“Not only do we get a very good price overall for what we’re asking for, but we get a contractor that comes very highly recommended as well,” he said.
Teal Construction is based in Houston and specializes in the construction of schools, fire and police stations, auto dealerships and other office buildings.
Vaughn said the city received 15 bids for the project. The previous budget for the station was $1.8 million, and Vaughn said the $2.1 million bid, which includes a contingency plan, remains within the city’s means.
“We were always asking for more than we can afford; we wanted champagne on a beer budget,” Vaughn said. “When the bid came in higher, I can’t say we blame them because we were always pushing the envelope for what we can get.”
jared@thepicayune.com