A new fire station in Wichita appears to be at least $1.25 million over budget — before construction even begins — and the Wichita Fire Department is not answering questions.
The new fire station — Station No. 23 — is to be located at Pawnee and Maize Road in southwestern Wichita, and was originally budgeted for $4 million.
However, an email obtained by The Sentinel shows that Wichita Fire Chief Elizabeth Snow plans to request at least an additional $1.25 million to complete the station but is waiting until after the March 3 sales tax election to do so.
The email says she will “go to Council now on 3/3 for final approval to initiate the $5.25 million for Station #23. For a variety of reasons, we keep getting bumped – primarily the sales tax proposal.”
Total costs for the new fire station, including land purchase and the design contract, could balloon to $6.17 million.
But why is the station over budget before ground has even been broken? Sources speaking on condition of anonymity tell The Sentinel that the station is being overbuilt.
Sources say the station is planned to house four firefighters and one “apparatus,” but will instead include sleeping quarters and locker rooms for eight firefighters per shift, and space for four engines.
It will also include five showers, including one unisex shower in the public restroom at the front of the station.
Sources suggest the plan also includes an unnecessarily complex roofline for aesthetic reasons, which increases costs.
The Sentinel was told that a staffing study showed the need for a fire station at that location — but only one apparatus, not four, and only four firefighters, not eight.
The minutes of a planning meeting of August 14 of last year show the design company — Tessere — said the extra space was needed to “build for future growth and design a station with eight staff.
Sources said it was unlikely, given the surrounding stations’ response times, that a four-engine station would ever be needed at that location.
The Sentinel contacted Chief Snow to request an explanation of the plan. The Sentinel asked:
- Why is the project over budget before ground has even been broken?
- The station will house four firefighters; why then does the plan call for room for eight?
- With only four firefighters on station at any time, why is there a locker room and locker space for eight personnel?
- Additionally, the station is to house one engine; why does the plan call for bays for four apparatus?
- With four personnel, why are five showers required, including one “unisex” shower in the public restroom?
- What is the need for a “unisex” shower — particularly in the public restroom at the front of the station?
As of publication, Snow has not responded.
