Gulf Shores firefighters may soon be able to complete their required training within the city limits.

Gulf Shores City Council was poised to vote Oct. 23 on a contract to hire Asphalt Services Inc. to build a proposed new fire training facility after discussing the matter at an Oct. 16 work session.

Clint Colvin, construction manager, said the city opened bids for the project on Sept. 28, and Asphalt Services proposed the lowest bid, amounting to approximately $1,864,277. Colvin said originally there was $1.2 million in the 2023 and 2024 budget for the project, but the 2024 budget will now be revised to $1,361,525, and $800,000 will be budgeted in 2025 to complete the project and construct new training towers.

During the Oct. 16 work session, Councilman Jason Dyken questioned the reasoning for the cost increase from $1.2 million to $1.8 million.

"When we first talked about this and putting a number down, we didn't know where it would go. We didn't know we were going to have wetlands to deal with and a three-year wait and increase of construction costs, so that was the best guess to get us started," Gulf Shores Fire Chief Mark Sealy said. "I know while it has increased exponentially, it's been a long time and there were a lot of unknowns when that number was submitted."

Sealy said a lot of thought went into designing the facility, including a new loop for fire truck driver's training.

"It allows us to do something that's really important for us to do in an area where we don't have civilian traffic. We've got people operating this heavy equipment at emergency speeds," Sealy said.

He said the fire department is still consulting with contractors, and it is possible the cost to construct the new training towers may be lower than $800,000.

Additionally, Sealy said the fire department currently has to travel to Florida and Mississippi to complete their required training. However, if approved, a new fire training facility would allow the department to complete the training within the city, cutting travel expenses.

"We are going to look at every way possible to shave the numbers on that and do a lot of the work ourselves," Sealy said. "When we look at protecting a city of this size, especially with all the visitors and high-rise structures, we have 14 or 15 firefighters on duty any given day. We have to be proficient, and it is vitally important that we stay up to date on training."

Sealy also said a new fire training facility would allow the opportunity for visiting fire departments to train in Gulf Shores, increasing tourism and revenue.

The following items are included in the project:

• Installation of a new driveway from the end of West 36th Avenue, south of the site;
• Fill material to raise the elevation for draining purposes;
• Installation of base and heavy duty asphalt for the training area for Fire Department personnel and trucks;
• Site storm water provisions; and
• Extension of water and sewer utilities to the site from West 36 Avenue.