The city of Santa Maria has successfully secured two grants totaling more than $4 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The money will go toward the construction of two new fire stations.
“There were 8,000 applicants nationwide, and there were only seven grants awarded here in California,” said Santa Maria Interim Fire Chief Jeff Jones. “Our two stations received the largest grant in California.”
So far, the city plans on replacing station No. 3, a converted 70-year-old house that receives 3,000 calls a year—about half of the city’s respnses, making it one of the busiest stations around.
Station No. 3 will be moved to city-owned land in the heart of the community of Preisker Park, and another station will be placed near Suey Crossing Road on the northeast side of Santa Maria.
The cost of building the two stations is estimated at approximately $6.8 million, according to a press release from the city.
“It’s expensive to build a fire station,” Jones said. “The regulations demand that the fire stations, along with police stations, be able to withstand a natural disaster.”
To receive the grant, the city had to be “shovel-ready,” according to the release. And the amount of time allotted for building the stations is three years.
But once the buildings are constructed, a new problem arises: How to staff them. The city estimates it will cost about $1.2 million a year to finance staff.
The city’s application went through the gauntlet to receive this grant and was evaluated by clarity of the project description, budget, the cost/benefit ratio, the financial need, and the effect of the endeavor.
“One of our own firemen filled out the application,” Jones said. “I don’t know why he’s a fireman—he should be writing grants.” m
This article appears in Oct 8-15, 2009.