WPB approves construction projects

West Palm Beach commissioners are scheduled to approve the renovation and construction of three fire stations and sanction a number of capital improvement projects today. The total construction cost for the three fire stations is $9.5 million, with $7.7 million of that being dedicated to a major renovation of fire station No. 5, which will become the city’s new emergency hub. Five thousand square feet of the No. 5 central station located at 700 North Congress Avenue will be allocated for the development of an emergency operations center. This shift comes after officials determined that the current emergency operations center located at the city’s water plant is subpar. Additionally, the commission will approve some $1.7 million for a variety of civic projects ranging from road renovations to railroad-crossing upgrades. The city of West Palm Beach will issue bonds to pay for the new fire stations, while the capital improvement projects will come out of the city’s general fund as part of the current budget. [Palm Beach Post]