Fire board authorizes up to $75,000 to buy temporary Hideout station structure

The Wasatch County Fire Protection Special Service District board voted to authorize the chief to purchase a temporary movable structure for the Hideout station for up to $75,000, after debating procurement approach, cost estimates and site-preparation needs.

The board discussed two main options: a steel "tin" building previously quoted at about $50,000 that would not be designed to be moved and a membrane-style movable structure (manufacturers cited included Sprung and Alaska Structures) estimated at roughly $65,000–$75,000 for a 30-by-40 insulated unit with doors, lighting and electrical. The chief said the developer GCD has donated site prep and utilities for the temporary placement, and the district has already positioned a trailer on the donated parcel.

Board members weighed whether to run an RFQ/RFP under state procurement rules or to use sole-source authority for a vendor the county has used previously. The chief said lead time from vendors is roughly four to six weeks for materials and that the district could obtain an RFQ; several board members expressed interest in speed. One member proposed approval up to a dollar cap so staff could proceed without waiting for the next board meeting.

A motion by an unnamed board member (Speaker 6) to authorize the chief to purchase the building from the vendor he deems best for the district, for up to $75,000 and potentially using sole-source procurement, was seconded and carried with board members answering "Aye." The board also discussed adding a concrete pad (rough estimate $10,000) if the site is to be prepped on concrete rather than asphalt.

The chief said six personnel hired for the Hideout coverage are already responding to calls in the area out of Jordanelle Station, and that the temporary structure will improve local operations until the permanent station is built on Highway 248. The district will bring back any material deviations from the approved cap to a future meeting.