Orcas Fire requested a committee review of the current design of the Deer Harbor fire station and find changes to be made in order to keep the project within budget.

“In my experience you can’t always do what you want, you have to do what you can afford,” commissioner Clyde Duke said during the board meeting on Sept. 29

In September, the OIFD Board of Commissioners received six bids from contractors, all of which were significantly over the district’s budget of $600,000.

Duke made a request of the board to go back to the original planning committee formed initially, and ask them to make recommendations about changes that could be made to the design of the new fire station.

The original committee members were Duke, land use consultant Teri Williams, fire chief Mike Harris, Greg Bronn of Hart Engineering, architect Bill Trogden, and Rick Petro of Orcas Sewage Design.

Duke met with architects Bill and Ben Trogden on Sept. 17. They reviewed design plans in order to find changes that would build the building within budget but keep the critical items.

“We think the issues are complex and technical and should be discussed at a committee level at this time,” Bill said at the Sept. 29 meeting.

Bill concluded that a station with the ability to shelter equipment is the highest priority at this time, and described the altered design could be a shell that is cut back of non-essential items. He recommended that the size of the structure be respected and said it was “time to roll up our sleeves and get down to work and discuss the elements.”

Elements that could be postponed to reduce the initial construction of the station include no second floor and not incorporating some of the green building practices hoped for.

Chief Harris read a letter from Josh Tye of Tye Contracting, Inc., the lowest bidder on the project. Tye’s letter suggested specific ways the building could be slimmed to the budget. Tye’s suggestions included no second floor, no resilient tile floor, using a crushed rock driveway, no emergency generator, standard metal roofing, and no flagpole.

Chair Jim Coffin said at this point what they needed to do was defer to the community and get ready to make serious choices.

The committee’s task includes finding a stopping point in the construction that will not be costly to pick up again when additional funds are available.

Alterations to the original design will likely eliminate the possibility of it being used as a stand alone station that can house responders when necessary. Deer Harbor was identified as in need of a stand alone station due to the narrow, cliff-side road to access the area and its vulnerability to earthquakes and other possible road blockages.

The commissioners have welcomed offers of volunteer time and labor for the project.

“Several people have come to me and asked what can we do to help to facilitate this building,” Duke said.

Meanwhile, the long permitting process with the county and neighboring landowners has made headway.

“I’m ready to go get your permit as soon as you give me a check,” Williams told the BOC at the Sept. 29 meeting.

According to Duke, the reconvened design committee should have a progress report for the BOC at the public meeting on Oct. 27 and possibly have some information to share before then.

The next public meeting is Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Eastsound fire station.