by James Coulter
One of two design proposals will be chosen for a fire station to be built near Hunt Brothers Road and Nest Egg Road.
At a workshop meeting on Wed. Feb. 12, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners reviewed two proposals for design services for a proposed fire station.
The station will be built on five acres located near the intersection of Hunt Brothers Road and Nest Egg Road. Currently, that property is outside the city limits, but the city has plans to annex it.
As the city agenda memo stated: “This purchase will allow the City to maintain adequate service levels for growth on our southern and eastern boundaries.”
Two proposals for design and architect services have been submitted by two developers: Colliers Project Leaders and Parlier + Crews Architects, P.A.
The Colliers proposal agreement is estimated to cost $71,910 (with fees invoiced at a lump sum rate of $7,990 per month for 9 months) and will provide “project management services for the design of this project.”
Meanwhile, the Parlier + Crews Architects proposal is estimated to cost $246,000 and will provide “full architectural and engineering services.”
Commissioner Carol Gillespie asked why the city would require a consultant to oversee the work of an architect, and why the city would simply not oversee the architect’s work directly.
Ken Guyette, Principal Associate with Colliers Project Leadersreplied that the consultant does more than simply oversee the architect, but also supervises several stages of development.
Scott Crews, an architect with Parlier Crews, explained how his work overseeing multiple government entities has allowed him to realize how many projects rely heavily on third-party peer review to ensure projects are implemented smoothly.
City commissioners will vote on the two proposals at their upcoming city commission meeting on Tues. Feb. 18 at 6 PM at Lake Wales City Hall, located at 201 W Central Ave.
