CAL FIRE Chief, Rob Lewin was the MC of the new Fire Station dedication. He began with an acknowledgment of Fifth District Supervisor, Jim Patterson. He said that “Jim was responsible for recognizing the need for a new fire station in Creston and putting together the resources necessary to get it developed.” Chief Lewin expressed appreciation not only for Jim Patterson’s support of the construction of the station but the commitment of the entire Board of Supervisors to staff this station seven days a week beginning June 1st. This announcement was met with a great burst of applause from those attending the dedication. The Chief informed the attendees that the revenue from the Carrizo Plain solar projects that is flowing into the County has greatly assisted in the ability to staff this Station seven days a week.
The Chief expressed thanks to County Administrators: Janet Pell of General Services and Kathy Mac Neil of Architectural Services. He thanked the Architectural firm of RRM. He thanked local firm, Rarig Construction for their work that is “on time and on budget.” He thanked the Creston Advisory Body for representing the community’s input in the design of the Station. He acknowledged the hard work and dedication to the community of the volunteer firefighters. Lastly “and most importantly”, Chief Lewin thanked the community. He said, “a fire station is an essential part of the community. Like the Post Office or a school the fire station defines the community. This is the Creston community, this is the Creston Fire Station. It is your fire station. It is here for you. Community participation and support of this fire station is why we are all here.”
Following addresses by Vic Montgomery of RRM Design, Sheriff Parkinson, Sheila Lyons of the Creston Advisory Body and Supervisor Patterson the ceremony attendees moved outside to the front of the Station. A piping (bagpipe), flag raising, ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling concluded the dedication.
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A recent event promoting Debbie Arnold’s candidacy for 5th District Supervisor was billed on a flyer as ”Creston Roundup For Debbie Arnold” Also, her website has several pages prominently displaying “Creston Roundup With Debbie Arnold!” For the record: THIS Creston Roundup is not “For” or “With” Debbie Arnold. THIS Creston Roundup does not endorse any political candidate. THIS Creston Roundup has a “Politics” blog category but it is limited to comments and discussion concerning legislation, restrictions and regulations affecting the residents and community of Creston.
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The Architect and the Project Coordinator have enough wisdom to know better than to get involved with the planning of the Creston Community Center kitchen. At a past presentation of the project, Creston’s own Rosie Hebron volunteered and was appointed Kitchen Planning Tactical Commander. Rosie’s ability to organize is well-known throughout the community and it was for this reason that she was picked to lead this operation. In her usual fashion, Rosie assembled a team of tried and true residents, made up of Creston Women’s Club members: Melenie Ristow, Sylvia Cazier, and Sheila Lyons. Nancy Ryan, Co-founder of the CATCH Fund (the Community Center fund-raising organization), also joined the team.
Rosie conducted a briefing Thursday evening , March 1st, to discuss the many and varied purposes that the kitchen will be used for. It was decided that a commercial kitchen would best suit the needs of the community. At the meeting Rosie introduced her tactical advisor, Bruce Breault, Partner and CEO of F.McLintocks restaurants in Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. Creston resident and activist, Ann Spencer suggested enlisting Bruce’s help. Bruce is a Creston resident and has assisted the Community Church with the design and outfitting of the new kitchen in the Sanctuary. He has been a sponsor of the Creston Classic Rodeo for many years. When informed that we could not afford to outfit the kitchen in phase 1 of the project, he said there were many options available for commercial grade USED appliances and fixtures. He told Rosie that with the current state of the economy, we could go down to Los Angeles and come back with a truckload filled with everything we need for pennies on the dollar.
Architect for the project, Nick Gilman, is presently producing the working plans for the Community Center. When Rosie and her team have completed the kitchen plan, Nick will incorporate it in the working plans. At that point we can submit the plans and studies to the Planning and Building Deptartment. Consecutively, we can request proposals from contractors.
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I was lucky to be invited to join in a visit to the new Firehouse recently. The tour began with a walk-through of the interior, lead by CAL FIRE, Deputy Chief, Rick Swan. Undoubtedly, the most impressive visual feature is the massive trusses above the bays that can house up to 4 engines. We were guided through the office and living quarters, all the while walking on polished, exposed aggregate, concrete floors with skylights overhead and stacks of, yet to be installed, cabinets.
We were shown the Captain’s office, a Sheriff’s interview room, the IT/Communications room with wires dangling from the walls and ceiling that will eventually connect the Station radios, phones and computers. Matt Jauregue, the Emergency Plan Center Chief said, “the County has done a really great job in the technical part of wiring all of our fire stations. It gives us a lot of flexibility. We will be using the County standards with 2 to 3 wireless access points within the building.” We saw a laundry area, the kitchen, four bedrooms and a dayroom that will include an entertainment center. The indoor part of the tour concluded with what will be a carpeted training room with outside access and restrooms that will be available to the community for group meetings.
The outside tour included a 30,000 gallon water storage tank that Kathy Mac Neill, from County Architectural Services, said cost about $50,000, installed. In conjunction with the tank there is a huge fire pump for pressurizing the Station’s sprinkler system. Sheila Lyons asked whether the station would have any photovoltaic panels. Deputy Chief Swan said, “not yet but we are trying to get at least some included in the budget, Fifth District Supervisor, Jim Patterson said “if there is money left, they are hoping to put a system in and that the panels would be located behind the station over the leech field.” We viewed the Landscape Plan, prepared by San Luis Obispo, RRM Design Group. Supervisor Patterson, who has recruited the Creston Garden Club to plant some trees, said he would like to take advantage of the bare root season. Rick Swan said that the Rarrig Construction contract ends February 23rd and that does not include any change list items or certain other county projects. He estimated that mid April would be a reasonable time for completion. He said that a letter requesting authorization for occupancy needed to be signed off by the Board of Supervisors. “Once that is done, then we can actually move in.”, he said.
So, it looks like the old Fire Station will be available for renovation in April, provided that CATCH has secured a ground lease for the property and a permit for the project has been issued. These items are moving through the proper channels and are expected to be in hand by the time of ground breaking for the new Creston Community Center.
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CAL FIRE Chief, Rob Lewin was the MC of the new Fire Station dedication. He began with an acknowledgment of Fifth District Supervisor, Jim Patterson. He said that “Jim was responsible for recognizing the need for a new fire station in Creston and putting together the resources necessary to get it developed.” Chief Lewin expressed appreciation not only for Jim Patterson’s support of the construction of the station but the commitment of the entire Board of Supervisors to staff this station seven days a week beginning June 1st. This announcement was met with a great burst of applause from those attending the dedication. The Chief informed the attendees that the revenue from the Carrizo Plain solar projects that is flowing into the County has greatly assisted in the ability to staff this Station seven days a week.
