It was a "never mind" moment on Aug. 10.
Newly elected SeaTac City Councilman Rick Forschler had requested July 27 that lawmakers delay for two weeks considering a motion to finalize costs for the new McMicken Heights fire station and accept the project as complete.
Final project costs were $7.8 million--approximately $2.6 million over the original projected cost.
On July 27, Forschler said his research indicated that the standard cost for fire station construction ranges from $135 to $148 per square foot with $141 as the national average.
Facilities director Pat Patterson, who had served as project general contractor, said the McMicken Heights construction cost was $249 per square foot. Patterson compared the cost favorably to the recent construction of the Lakeland Hills station in Auburn that came in at $423 per square foot.
On Aug. 10, Forschler said that further "digging into" the numbers revealed an average closer to Patterson's figures.
The completed project was accepted as part of the consent agenda.
Forschler said he was still concerned about a state auditor's report that was critical of the city serving as its own general contractor.
The $2 million "cost overrun" was a source of contention during hard fought campaigns for council seats and a proposition to change SeaTac's form of government last November. The proposition, which would have replaced the city's current city manager/council structure with an elected mayor and council, lost by 9 votes.
Adding extra twists to the debate was that Patterson is married to King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson and he had received a raise from former City Manager Craig Ward.
At the July 27 meeting, Patterson outlined some of the factors that added costs to what he sardonically called "the infamous Fire Station 46" project.
He noted the station is a 50-year sustainable building with permeable concrete parking areas that allow water to soak into the ground. The roof is metal while the outer siding is brick.
The station not only serves as department headquarters but also is the city's designated emergency governmental center.
"It is built to withstand a major event," Patterson said.
Patterson also noted the bidding process was delayed for two years after questions were raised about its location and the possible impact of the nearby Olympic fuel pipeline.
In 2007, the project was expected to cost $5.2 million but when it went out to bid in 2008. "Construction costs skyrocketed and we were caught in the tide," Patterson reported.
