Plans to repair Wrangell’s Public Safety Building are moving forward since last month’s Dec. 16 borough assembly meeting.
Borough assembly members approved an agreement with NorthWind Architects for architectural and engineering design services for $667,028.
The building accommodates the Department of Motor Vehicles, police and fire department, Search and Rescue, Customs and Border Patrol, dispatch and the courthouse.
Borough Manager Mason Villarma said the municipality has been talking about rehabilitating the building for a while. They discovered rotten wood beams 20 years ago.
“We have a $5.5 million project to put together for the Public Safety Building,” he said. “This will be the design of that project. This is roof, siding, bare minimum. Just let’s get the shell of the building done.”
The overall project is expected to cost $5.938 million. Villarma said the City and Borough just received $2.438 million in federal funding for the project. That amount will join the $3 million bond proceeds the municipality will receive this spring.
The borough currently has $500,000 in its budget specifically for the Public Safety Building. That’s to cover architectural and engineering design, construction administration and a full-time resident inspector. This also includes a structural engineer on-site to manage the opening of exterior walls and the internal framing review.
Villarma said the federal funds came at a perfect time, which will come through in March. He said in a text message the borough intends “to use all money to address roofs and siding first and then use remaining funds, if any, for the next priorities.”
“(It’s) really important that we make these overhauls now, and we are committing to construction this summer,” he said.
Additionally, the flat roof component will be replaced with a gable – or triangular – shaped roof, to prevent the roof from caving in during heavy snow and rain. Fungal hazard design will also be included in the rehabilitation of the building.
This refers to mitigating risks associated with harmful fungi, which has been a problem in the past in the building.
Capital Projects Director Amber Al-Haddad said in an email “the Borough has identified a certain level of mold in some of the exterior wall cavities. Those walls identified are planned to have the entire wall replaced. This means that from the exterior siding on the outside of the building to the painted drywall on the inside of the building and everything in between those building finish layers will be replaced.”
The borough will solicit competitive bidding for construction in the spring.
