KILLEEN, Texas — The Killeen Fire Department is seeking the City Council's support in approving more funds for a project in the 9200 block of Trimmier Road.
Around two years ago the Killeen City Council approved a new facility for KFD for $17 million. Fire Chief James Kubinski said there have been some cost changes and they're looking to expand the property to feature more.
"We know that there's been a lot that's changed in the last two years, which includes the cost per square foot to build a structure," Kubinski told 6 News.
The changes come with a price tag of roughly $5 million, bringing the project's total to $22 million, according to Kubinski. He, along with other partners in the project, presented a pathway to the council to get the job done without passing or issuing any debt.
"It's a cash project, which is a great story for the City of Killeen," Kubinski told the city council at the workshop meeting Tuesday evening.
6 News asked Kubinski what he would say to those who were shocked by the $22 million price tag. He said it comes down to standards, longevity and the needs of the department overall.
"Fire stations are built to last for 50-60 years and that was the intent of the project that we're trying to build is that this is a 50-year-long structure," Kubinski said. "You break that out over a number of dollars that are being spent and you're getting value for your dollar. Additionally, we're making sure that we're building something that is within an acceptable price point and we hired a third-party firm to ensure that the bids we were receiving are within the industry standard so that we aren't being taken advantage of just because someone sees that it's a city that has money."
Kubinski also said the project will be a perk to his department and also the city to offload some of the spaces the KFD is occupying or using.
"We're going to combine four properties down into one," Kubinski explained. "We're taking an opportunity to combine our fire station training academy and Emergency Operations Center into one building. The Fire Academy and Emergency Operations Center is unique in the fact that it will allow us to expand and contract as needed."
The Killeen Fire Chief also stressed the issue of reserve vehicles being stored outdoors, meaning "millions of dollars of assets of the city" are being exposed to elements.
"Those are a lot of different things that a city of our size, being the 19th largest city in the state, should definitely not be doing," Kubinski said. "We need to be protecting those assets as well."
Located in south Killeen, Kubinski said the future property of KFD was chosen strategically.
"The master plan we had done back in 2021 identified that as our area of largest growth and biggest efficiency in response times," Kubinski said. "We are consistently seeing response times greater than six minutes and that's where we're seeing most of our building permits, especially in the single-family housing area being built. We also have the high school that's right down the road that is already open since then."
At the workshop, the city council did not make any decision on the $22 million project. They were only presented the information and had a chance to discuss the topic. The city council will be able to take action on the item Feb. 27.
If passed, the new Killeen Fire property will reportedly be complete and servicing the community in about 20 months. Kubinski told the city council that 24 additional personnel will need to be hired for the property.
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