Calling it a ‘professional service,? the Orion Township trustees decided March 1 to suspend the township spending/bidding policy to contract with Straub, Petit and Yaste for architectural services to design a new fire station for Baldwin Road.
Orion Township Fire Chief Jeff Key asked the board to hire the firm to design the building rather than going out for bids on an architect, which he said would further delay construction of the fire station. Straub, Petit and Yaste designed the township’s DPW building, fire station #2, and township hall, he said.
‘Is this something we can do?? clerk Jill Bastian asked the township attorney. ‘Straub, Petit and Yaste used to be called the ‘township architect.??
Township attorney Kristin Kolb said since the spending/bidding policy was a board-made policy, they could chose to waive it by majority vote in this case.
‘It’s a pretty straight forward design, but I also want to follow the law,? Bastian said.
Key said bids could be sought to build the design after the board approved it. Key said it will have a ‘residential look,? to blend with the large homes in that area. ‘We don’t want it to stick out like a sore thumb,? he added.
‘We’d like to get that building up during this construction season,? said supervisor Jerry Dywasuk.
Key said the budget for the building was about $1 million. The township recently received the deed for the property as part of a deal with developer Terry Nosan.
‘Why should we go against policy and not go out for bid?? asked trustee Richard Tomczak.
‘I know (Key) would like to get this building up and running in that part of the township,? Bastian said.
Gingell said if the board went against the policy, there would have to be a ‘really, really good reason.?
Key said in the interest of public safety, he was asking the board to waive their policy in this case.
‘The sooner we can get this up and functioning, the better it will be for citizens in the northwest corner of the township,? he said.
The board approved Key’s request, but to add that since the architectural design was a ‘professional service,? the board would waive their policy in this one case, in the interest of ‘public health, safety and welfare.?