The Bellevue City Council voted unanimously Thursday to waive a $400 design-review fee to move forward with plans to extend the back wall of the fire station building 4 feet into the alley between Oak and Pine streets.
The council approved an encroachment permit last week for the extension, but has yet to allocate the $4,000 needed to complete the job.
"This needs to happen before the snow flies," said Councilman Shaun Mahoney.
Fire Chief Greg Beaver has sought money to fix a wall in the station that has repeatedly been struck by the back bumper of a fire truck that came at a good price several years ago but is too big for the building.
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In true Bellevue make-do style, Councilman Brett Gelskey, a former concrete contractor, agreed to pitch in concrete forms and labor to work with Beaver to cut costs on building the footings for the job. City Administrator Tom Blanchard said he could supply concrete finishing tools.
Steel bollards will be made from old basketball goals and placed in the alley beside the extension to keep vehicles from crashing into the building.
A final design will be reviewed tonight at a special meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com