2007 News

August 1 , 2007

Commissioners Authorize Contracts for State-of-Art Bucks County Burn Building in Doylestown
Re-bid of Specifications Results in More than $800,000 Savings to Taxpayers

Moving decisively toward the erection of a new, Class “A” burn building at the county Public Safety Training Center in Doylestown, the Board of Bucks County Commissioners today approved three Department of Public Works contracts totaling $1.34 million. The unanimous decision took place during the commissioners’ bi-monthly meeting at Silverdale Borough’s brand-new Pennridge Senior Center.

Commissioners Charles H. Martin, chairman, James F. Cawley and Sandra A. Miller awarded the largest of the three contracts, $1.038 million, to Jahnke & Sons Construction, Inc. of Overland Park, KS for construction of the structural fire-fighting prop. In addition, the commissioners approved a $234,000 contract for site and concrete work with Deco Management Corporation of Fort Washington, PA, and a $63,200 bid from Carr & Duff, Inc. of Huntingdon Valley, PA, to provide electrical services.

“These contracts represent another vital step in securing a state-of-the-art burn training facility for the first responders of Bucks County,” Martin noted. “We look forward to guiding these projects to completion, as they will benefit all of our citizens.”

According to the commissioners and Chief Operating Officer David Sanko, the burn building contracts were re-bid, which resulted in savings of more than $800,000 to county taxpayers, all without changing any of the specifications. “That $800,000 represents funding that can be redirected to investment in a planned Lower Bucks fire school,” Sanko said. “This is more good news for the taxpayers of Bucks County, wonderful news for the fire-safety community.

On June 27, the commissioners took part in the demolition of the old burn building, a site on which the new one also will be located. It will feature opportunities for first responders to participate in effective situational training with adjustable pitched roofing, firefighter-survival tactics, and modern ventilation options.