By Diana McFarland
Smithfield Times News editor
A bid to build the new Smithfield Fire Station was accepted Thursday in a 4-1 vote by the Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors.
A.R. Chesson Construction was awarded $2.9 million to build a 17,000 square foot building with four engine bays, 10 individual sleeping rooms, a four-man bunkroom, six private bathrooms, a public bathroom, a kitchen and laundry area, office space and a training room.
Smithfield Supervisor Al Casteen voted to decline the bid because several add-ons, such as a temporary parking lot, fueling station and eight additional sleeping areas were removed. Those items would have cost an additional $266,553.
“The building is being diminished,” Casteen said.
Windsor Supervisor Tom Wright disagreed.
“$2.9 million is supposed to be a functional fire station. The rest of this is cream and doesn’t need to go on the pie,” he said.
Read the entire story in the March 10 issue of the Smithfield Times. Papers can be purchased at newstands, or subscribe by calling 357-3288 or online at www.smithfieldtimes.com
