President asking community, businesses to help fund shortage since Katrina pushed up construction costs

By CALEB FREY

Staff Reporter

GARYVILLE – The rising costs of construction in the post-Katrina era have forced Garyville firefighters to wait indefinitely for the construction of a new station.

Timmy Mire, president of the Garyville Fire Department, said the low bid to build the new station was about $200,000 out of reach before Katrina struck. The department has around $600,000 in its budget for the new station, Mire said, but underbid the amount they were financed for.

&#8220We don’t have the funds needed at the present moment,” Mire said. &#8220What we’re doing now is trying to secure some funds from local plants and businesses such as Marathon.”

The low bid to construct the station before Katrina was $792,000 by Constructco Inc., a Kenner based company. Aegis Construction came in with the next highest bid at $799,000.

Although lack of funds is the main setback for the fire department, Mire said he’s not just going to accept the lowest bid, regardless of the price.

&#8220We’re not required to take the lowest bid, so we’re able to keep our options open on this,” Mire said. &#8220If someone offers to build the station for $500,000 and it’s going to take nine years to complete, obviously we’re not going to choose that company.”

Mire asked that anyone looking to donate contact the Garyville Fire Department at 985-535-6499.