Council awards fire stations
 NICK G. MAHERAS
 ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
  HIGH POINT – High Point City Council approved one construction contract and let another be pulled from Monday’s agenda. The council unanimously approved a $1,926,000 contract with R.K. Stewart Construction to build a new 10,500 square-foot fire station across Westchester Drive from Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church.
  The fi re department will close Station 3 on Phillips Avenue, built in 1961, and replace it with the new one.
  Fire Chief David Taylor has said the current station is too small to accommodate a ladder truck and requires major renovations and repairs to protect the department’s fire insurance wrating.
  The new fi re station could be ready for occupancy by late February or early March 2008.
  Meanwhile, a $517,000 contract for M&M Builders to build a 3,200 square-foot addition to the Washington Terrace Community Center was pulled from council’s agenda because of a problem with the bid.
  “It looks like we’re going to have to re-bid it,” said Allen Oliver, parks and recreation director.
  The expansion would virtually double the size of the much-used center, he said.
  “The building was so highly successful, and one of the things we needed down there was additional space,” Oliver said. “We did have a lot of family reunions and events like that.”
  The expansion will include a catering kitchen, a new entrance and a large, new meeting room to host community groups and such activities as classes.
  An $8 million parks and recreation improvements bond approved by voters in November 2004 included $700,000 for improvements at Washington Terrace Park.
  Money for the new fire station project also was included in the $6.5 million public safety portion of the bond referendum.
  Council also approved a contract renewal with CIGNA health care insurance for the city’s 1,444 employees and 108 retirees that represents a 3.08 percent cost increase from April 1 to March 31, 2008
nmaheras@hpe.com | 888-3534