BURRILLVILLE – A project to install a new municipal fuel depot at the Burrillville police headquarters on Victory Highway moved forward this week, albeit at a cost much higher than initially anticipated.
The Town Council unanimously approved award of the bid to La Mountain Bros. Inc of Oxford, Mass. at a cost of $761,626. Financing for the project will come from the town’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act funding, which must be spent by the end of this year.
“This is a project that’s been on the council’s agenda for a number of years,” said Town Manager Michael Wood at a meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
The depot will replace the town’s current fuel station on Union Avenue, which will be decommissioned once the new facility is up and running. The contractor will install two above ground concrete tanks containing 6,000 gallons of gasoline and a fuel monitoring system in the parking area at police headquarter on the opposite side of the property from the playground.
The new station at 1477 Victory Highway will serve police vehicles, as well as trucks and equipment operated by the town’s Department of Public Works.
“Police are the biggest users, and there will be more security,” explained Public Works Director Jeffrey McCormick.
McCormick noted that when the town first looked at the project five years ago, the cost was around $250,000. An RFP put out in July, however, brought in four bidders, with costs ranging from La Mountain’s $761,000, up to a $982,400 bid submitted by R.P. Iannuccillo & Sons Construction Co. of Providence.
“Quite the spread on prices there,” said Council President Donald Fox of the submissions.
McCormick noted that the new fueling station will be protected by a cantilevered roof, and will feature a fire suppression system, camera security and perimeter fencing, as well as an emergency diesel generator for electric service backup.
The depot will also offer four electric vehicle charging stations to serve the town’s fleet.
The project is expected to have minimal affect on current operations at the 19.6 acre police station property. Hero Park will remain in place, along with the smaller parking lot between the playground and the building.
McCormick noted that La Mountain Brothers did previous work for the town, installing the above ground tank at the DPW facility on Clear River Drive.
“I’m very comfortable with them,” he said.
Councilors had originally allocated $471,437 for the project, which was returned to the town’s capital fund Wednesday night so that work can be entirely paid for with ARPA funds.
“Jeff’s put a lot of work in on this,” noted Wood.
It’s easy to spend some else’s money…..
M. Long,
I understand they are ARPA funds. The ARPA funds can be used for just about anything. They could be used to repair roads, fix sidewalks, improve the schools, beautify storefronts, repair infrastructure and so many more things.
This gas station was originally estimated to cost $250k. Then 470k. Now $760,000 for a a gas pump and two tanks. That $760k could bring so much more benefit elsewhere to the town.
Not to mention, the town council already mentioned that they just installed another above ground tank at the DPW. Tank for what? Fuel? Why not just consolidate everything there, if they just installed a tank?
Concerned,
All the things you listed would take a substantial amount of money. Far more than this project. And the rising of project costs? Look no further than companies staying with their costs and inflations. The Request For Bids was floated 5 or 6 years ago?
Quite a bit has changed since then, unfortunately.
Emergency services, in a town as geographically large as this, requires guaranteed fuel points during storms and power outages, which are more frequent than other parts of the state.
It’s a necessity dealt by the dealer called “Time”.
Concerned,
Did you not see that this is being funded by ARPA grants that have to be used, in entirety, by end of year? The town doesn’t have a 24 hour, privately owned, gas station. Sunoco closes before midnight. Chepachet Gulf is a 20 minute drive from the eastern half of town, so sending patrol cars that work the outer ranges of the town is neither safe nor practical.
The new fuel depot is the best option for the town. It’s paid by grant money which needs to be used, keeps the fuel source centralized, and since it will be tied into the generators it will remain functional if / when the power goes down during a storm.
How in the world can this town be lead by “fiscal conservatives” when they’re building a nearly 1 million dollar gas station for their small police department and handful of municipal trucks.
Just give the police a Sunoco card and have them fill up at the one near the western, or the one near Pascoag.
These remaining ARPA funds should be used to bring actual improvements to the town that residents will benefit from.