FAQs

The current fire stations need to be replaced because they are outdated and no longer meet the demands of modern firefighting. Both stations, with one over 50 years old and the other over 100 years old, lack the necessary space for modern vehicles, equipment, and safety measures. 

Renovating these buildings isn't feasible due to their small size and inability to accommodate the upgrades required for today's standards. Additionally, the absence of decontamination facilities in the current stations poses significant health risks to our firefighters. New facilities are essential to address these critical issues and ensure the safety and effectiveness of our fire department.

Renovating our current fire stations is not a viable option due to their age, limitations, and inability to meet modern safety standards. Both stations are over 50 and 100 years old, and even with retrofitting, they would still fall short of current requirements for fire stations. The existing buildings are too small to accommodate modern facilities and lack the space needed for full functionality. Additionally, the properties themselves are too small to allow for any meaningful expansion. 

A 2016 study concluded that while the stations are operational, they are becoming untenable, and any significant renovation would require complete demolition to meet future needs. given these factors, investing in new facilities that meet current standards is the more practical and effective choice.

The South Sanford Fire Station was closed primarily because it is over 30 years old and no longer meets the operational needs of the department. Reopening it isn't viable due to its age, limitations in its structure, and the fact that it would require significant staffing increases to function effectively. 

Additionally, transitioning to a two-station model has been shown through independent analysis to enhance responsiveness and reduce long-term costs, making it a more efficient and sustainable solution for the community. The station's size also doesn’t adequately accommodate the necessary personnel to handle modern call demands.

The 2 new stations will replace the function of two obsolete 50-100 year old stations. The location of the new stations was chosen to provide better response time and coverage for Sanford's populated areas, including those previously covered by the former South Station. Two stations will now provide the rapid response once covered by three, with less staffing.

While we are seeking approval for both new fire stations at the same time, construction will be staggered to minimize disruptions. Central Station will be completed first, followed by Springvale Station. This phased approach ensures that existing stations remain operational, avoiding interruptions in emergency services, while also helping the City avoid the projected 6% annual increase in construction costs due to inflation. Building both stations under a single, coordinated plan allows us to efficiently modernize our outdated infrastructure, optimizing resources and achieving cost savings for taxpayers.

The design is based on a space needs study by WBRC and Mitchell Associates to meet the minimum requirements for staffing, equipment, storage, and safety. Keep in mind, most of the stations people are familiar with were designed 50-100+ years ago, when fire trucks were smaller and there were no decontamination areas, breathing apparatus fill stations, EMS vehicles, training spaces, etc.  

The increased price was determined by the City’s architect based on escalators on material costs and labor costs. Estimators gather data from ongoing construction projects to extrapolate the data needed. 

We conducted a cost-benefit analysis and found it more cost-effective to purchase the Courtney Cleaners property. If we had sold the back portion of the property to SHA, we would have been required to construct a two-story building with retaining walls and install costly in ground storm treatment systems. 

Now, we'll have a single-story station with a stormwater retention pond that can serve as green space.

The purchase price for 1274 Main Street and 1280 Main Street was determined based on an appraisal conducted by the City. The appraisal ensured that the $585,000 payment, which covered both the Springvale Nurseries property and the adjacent land, did not exceed the appraised value of the parcels. 

This process helped confirm that the purchase price was fair and reflective of the properties' market value.

Yes, but it will be minimal. We'll set up pre-emption, which means lights will be installed specifically for emergency vehicles when they're heading out on a call.

No, the City did not use COVID relief funds (ARPA funds) to purchase the second property after the initial proposal was rejected. 

The previous vote in 2019 involved an undisclosed piece of land, which led to community hesitation due to the lack of details and concerns about making a speculative purchase. However, when ARPA funds became available, "Public Safety" was deemed an allowable use. The City used only a portion of these funds for the property purchase, which allowed them to avoid bonding for the land itself. As a result, the City plans to bond only for the construction of the fire station, not the land purchase.

There are several federal grant funding opportunities that we plan to pursue to help offset the cost of the new fire stations. These include grants from FEMA, Congressional Direct Spending, USDA, and other potential sources. However, it's important to note that we can only apply for these grants once the project has been approved. 

Securing this funding will be a priority as we move forward.

The new fire stations will improve emergency response times. Both locations have been strategically chosen to minimize response times and ensure that a majority of residents will be within a 4-minute response time zone. 

Additionally, the designs of the new stations will allow for more efficient staffing of vehicles and apparatus, further enhancing our emergency response capabilities and helping maintain low ISO ratings.

Yes, there will be opportunities for community input during the final design and planning stages of the new fire stations. While the final design phase has not yet begun, we are committed to seeking further input from the community once the project is approved and construction moves forward.

No, the new stations are designed to be durable, easy to maintain, and appropriately sized to meet current code requirements for modern firefighting staff and equipment.  

The estimated cost for each station was developed after a schematic design phase by a team specializing in fire station design. A professional third-party estimate was conducted for unit prices and materials, accounting for inflation throughout the construction period.