The city council Monday approved Randall Scott Architects of Dallas to provide design work for a central fire station and fire administration facility.
City manager Brett Shannon said the city received nine proposals and selected four architectural firms to interview before making the final choice.
"All four were really good. It made for a hard selection. Any one of them we feel would do a good job," Shannon said.
Fire Chief Mike Richardson said Randall Scott Architects was selected after receiving positive reports from the firm's references.
"One thing that was impressive ... is they are very much a stickler for staying on time and on budget," Richardson said.
The council approved the hire by a 4-0 vote, with council members Jay Davidson and Pam Holland absent.
The fire station will be built near the city's law enforcement center on South State Street.
Another major project on the city's horizon also took a step forward Monday as the council hired engineering firm Kimley-Horn and Associates to begin work on construction of a 16-inch water line from the city's water treatment plant to the existing Thompson Street elevated storage tank.
Shannon explained that the water line will serve a future 1-million gallon overhead storage tank. The existing Thompson Street water tank holds 150,000 gallons. The new water tank will increase water capacity to the area, including the businesses at the Decatur Landmark Industrial Park.
Jeff James, vice president of Kimley-Horn, said the water line will be designed to "move water quickly" from the water treatment plant to the storage tank.
It could be a year before construction begins, however, because the company will have to acquire easements from property owners along the water line's path. Shannon said the city will try to use as much right-of-way as possible.
Both the fire station and water line are part of the city's capital improvement projects, which will be paid by certificates of obligation. The city in March approved the issuance of the certificates of obligation in the amount of $6.25 million.
In other business, the council:
- approved an amended site plan and planned development ordinance for the Deer Park Development. The 47-acre development near Rann Elementary School includes areas for single family homes, apartments and retail.
- approved a sign variance request from Tim Fleet with Crestview Place Apartments for a temporary sign located off premises advertising available leases. "I would rather look at that sign than what we've been looking at for the past two years," council member Randy Parker said, referring to the long-delayed construction of the apartments by a former owner. The council voted 3-1 for the variance, with Martin Woodruff casting the lone opposing vote. The sign is to remain up no longer than 60 days with landowner permission.
- heard a report that the city's water plant earned recognition as a "superior" system after a recent inspection. No one spoke during a public hearing on the city's annual drinking water quality report.
- learned that Decatur citizens recycled 21.12 tons of material in May and 27.21 tons in June (based on projections from the first three weeks of the month) in the first two months of the city's residential recycling program through IESI.
