Ad hoc committee mulls potential study of Tomahawk Fire Department’s space needs
Design firm would assess current TFD building, Kaphaem Rd. property
By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
TOMAHAWK – The ad hoc committee formed in January to come up with a plan for the city-owned property on Kaphaem Road heard a proposal for a study that would assess the Tomahawk Fire Department’s space needs and provide information regarding a potential building addition/expansion or relocation to the Kaphaem Road property.
The committee did not take action on the proposal during its Tuesday, June 15 meeting, but it did mull potential options for the future of Tomahawk’s emergency service departments, such as relocating the fire department to the Kaphaem Road property and constructing a new building on the property to house the fire department. Relocating the Tomahawk Police Department to the preoperty along with the fire department was also discussed.
The study will cost an estimated $21,750.00 if the committee moves forward.
The ad hoc committee is made up of the city’s five-person Finance Committee – District 1 alderperson and Finance Committee Chair Mickey Loka, District 1 alderperson Patricia E. Haskin, District 2 alderperson and Council President Jeff Kahle, District 2 alderperson Dale Ernst, and District 3 alderperson Steve “Ding” Bartz – as well as Distrcit 3 alderpersons Mike Loka and Tadd Wegener, at-large members appointed by Mayor Steven E. Taskay.
The property, formerly Lincoln Industries, is located near the southeastern city limits at 1775 Kaphaem Road and features a roughly 8,000 square-foot building sitting on about 19 acres. Lincoln County sold the property to the City of Tomahawk for $1, plus $30 in administrative paperwork, in Dec. 2020.
For a number of years prior to the purchase of the property, the city has been looking for a possible change of location for the fire department or a potential larger public service building.
Five Bugles Design study proposal
The study proposal was presented by Five Bugles Design, a firm that “provides planning and design services solely to the public safety service industry,” according to the firm’s website. Five Bugles Design is division of Wendel, a national architecture, engineering, energy efficiency and construction management firm.
According to the proposal, the study’s scope of services would include two facets: “Facility review of the existing facility and respective site” and “Programming/space needs analysis,” as well as optional Geographical Information System (GIS) station location studies.
Regarding the Kaphaem Road building and property, the firm said it would provide “full condition analysis and on-site inspections of the facility and site.” The firm would also “(identify) fire and safety regulation compliance issues and possible solutions” and provide “written condition analysis of the building and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems,” as well as information regarding the facility’s Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
The firm would also meet with the Tomahawk Fire Department to review space usage at its current location at 100 N. Tomahawk Ave. A review of “deficiencies and projected growth” would also take place, according to the proposal.
“A space program will be developed that details existing space need and projected space needs for the next 20 years,” the proposal stated.
The firm would prepare conceptual “bubble diagram” options for potential additions, remodels, or new plans. A conceptual site plan diagram “using aerial photos/maps to evaluate potential building expansion locations/orientation, utility service impacts and parking/circulation impacts” would also be prepared.
Members of the fire department and the firm would discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option and select the preferred floor plan and site alternatives for further refinement, the proposal said.
In total, Five Bugles estimated that the study would cost $21,750.00. $4,000 would be allocated to the Existing Facility Assessment, and $12,750.00 would go toward the Feasibility Study for Programming Services, Space Needs Analysis and Conceptual Design. If the committee chooses to go forward with the study but exclude the $5,000.00 optional GIS Station Location Analysis, the study would cost an estimated $16,750.00.