Hinckley trustees award bid for old fire station east wall project

HINCKLEY TWP. — After multiple failed attempts over the past few years, the Hinckley Township trustees awarded a bid for the old fire station east wall energy conservation and renovation project. The trustees awarded the contract to R2K Construction Inc. for approximately $92,000 during its meeting on Tuesday. Apollo Construction was the only other bidder, and its base bid was $109,000. The old fire station is at 1410 Ridge Road, and the east wall still has fire bay doors. Chairman Jack Swedyk said the doors are not energy efficient, which makes that part of the building expensive to heat in the winter for community events. Therefore, the scope of the project comprises removing the bay doors and installing a new wall and energy-efficient windows. He said it will improve the east side of the building. In the past, the project was unsuccessfully bid out a few times because of overbidding and a paperwork error. Also during Tuesday's meeting, Hinckley Fire Chief Jestin Grossenbaugh said he will pick up Hinckley Fire and Rescue's newest fire apparatus from Michigan this week. The township purchased the tanker for approximately $740,000 in May 2023. Now the township is looking at getting a new ambulance for the fire department, since the vehicle would have a three-year build time, he said. The township has already met with several potential manufacturers. "We're in the process of sending everything over to the prosecutor's office for review," Grossenbaugh said. "We should have something for the next meeting." The expected price for a new ambulance is approximately $350,000, he said. Because of emissions requirements, the department will purchase an ambulance with a gasoline engine rather than a diesel engine. "Everybody you talk to from mechanics to other fire departments are all saying go with the gas (engine)," Grossenbaugh said. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.