The wheels have gotten turning on a new Navasota fire station, at least in theoretical terms.
At the most recent city council meeting, a presentation was made by Raul Orozco, who has worked for the last year on his masters thesis at Texas A&M, in which he designed a site plan for a new fire station, plus avenue for potentially funding it.
He said in initial meetings with the city, they expressed a desire to keep the current fire station, and build a new one in the area of the airport.
“I have recommended a main building, and accessory building. The main including a lobby, administrative area, alarm communication center, a day room for firefighters to have recreation options, living quarters, as well as an apparatus bay. These sizes are very conceptual, and can be explored differently in future design practices. It also includes an accessory building with a maintenance bay, and training facilities,” said Orozco.
He said the site plan he proposed would eliminate parking issues, problems with which the current station has.
Orozco recommended funding avenues of federal and local grants, should the city pursue this new station. But, again, none of these plans are even in motion yet, as fire chief Jason Katkoski noted.
“I think it gives us a good starting point, and something to look at, and that was one of the things we were hung at for so long was ‘where do we start?'” said Katkoski. “So, this is a good start for us.”
For questions or more information, contact the city at 936-825-6475.