Special Meeting (Minutes)

The Kasson Township Board convened a special meeting on July 1, 2024, to address the fire station design project. The meeting commenced at 5:00 p.m. with all board members present, including Supervisor Greg Julian, Treasurer Julia Carter, Clerk Dana Boomer, and Trustees Roger Noonan and Tad Carter. The agenda was approved unanimously, and there were no public comments. The primary focus of the meeting was the review of three bids received for the initial stages of the fire station design process from Fleis & Vandenbrink, JML Design Group, and Environment Architects. The bids varied significantly in estimated construction costs, ranging from $1.2 to $5 million, primarily due to differences in construction style and complexity. The board decided to proceed with contracting for the first two stages of the design process, which include conceptual renderings and community engagement/funding selection, due to the similarity in these initial bids.

The board engaged in a detailed discussion regarding the selection of a design firm. Supervisor Julian questioned whether additional bids should be sought, but the board agreed that the three received were sufficient. A debate ensued about the necessity of in-person presentations from the design firms. While Julian advocated for these presentations to allow for further questions and insights, other board members, including Noonan and T. Carter, felt they were unnecessary and would delay the process. Ultimately, a motion was passed to contract with Environment Architects for Stages 1 and 2 of the design work at a cost of $31,500 plus up to $3,500 in reimbursable expenses. The motion was supported by all board members except Julian, who preferred in-person presentations before making a decision. Clerk Boomer was tasked with contacting Environment Architects and the other firms, and requesting a draft contract to be reviewed by Tom Grier before signing.

Additional considerations discussed included the location of the fire station and the need for safety measures such as caution lights or systems that activate when fire trucks leave the station. Fire Chief Andy Doornbos mentioned available systems that could be installed for this purpose. The board decided to continue addressing these issues as a committee of the whole. Public comment was provided by Don Drabik, who emphasized the importance of taking time to understand and interact with the design firms before making a final decision. In board comments, Clerk Boomer announced the resignation of the Planning Commission’s Recording Secretary effective after the July meeting, and Supervisor Julian reported a favorable ruling for the township in the Enduro hearing. The meeting adjourned at 5:39 p.m.