By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Two fire stations in the city limits could move one step closer to reality on Tuesday.

The Salisbury City Council is scheduled to approve contracts for local firm Ramsay Burgin Smith Architects to oversee design and construction of new fire stations near the Rowan County Airport and Mahaley Avenue. The facility near the Rowan County Airport will be known as Station No. 6. The facility on Mahaley Avenue will replace Station No. 3 and bear the same number.

Together the contracts are estimated to result in costs totaling $571,638.55. Fees paid to Ramsay Burgin Smith Architects for Station No. 3 are projected to be slightly higher — $288,310.75 — than for Station No. 6 — $283,327.80.

The contracts have been placed on the Salisbury City Council’s consent agenda, which is used for items with unanimous support.

Station No. 6 is planned for Cedar Springs Road, which starts at an intersection with Airport Road and ends near U.S. 29, where it turns into Peeler Road.

Tuesday’s agenda documents state Station No. 6 will be 19,274 square feet and include the following: administrative areas, residential staff support, service support areas, training and hose tower and five truck bays. The estimated cost of Station No. 6 is $4.05 million, according to Tuesday’s agenda documents.

The nearest Salisbury Fire Department station to the proposed Station No. 6 is located on South Main Street. It’s known as Station No. 2.

Meanwhile, the replacement of Station No. 3 will involve a move from its current location on West Innes Street to a site slightly north. The city of Salisbury is in the process of acquiring land near a dentist’s office on Mahaley Avenue.

Reasons for replacement of Station No. 3 include structural problems. The new station No. 3 will measure about 17,300 square feet, according to agenda documents. It will include administrative areas, residential staff support, service support areas and three truck bays. Tuesday’s agenda documents peg the construction cost of Station No. 3 at nearly $4 million.

The Salisbury City Council will meet Tuesday at 5 p.m. in City Hall — 217 South Main St.

In other business from Tuesday’s agenda:

• The Salisbury City Council will recognize James Garris Jr., a Salisbury firefighter.

On March 12, Garris assisted the Durham Fire Department with an apartment fire.

In a letter to Salisbury Fire Department, Acting Battalion Chief Richard Ray wrote that Garris, without any protective gear, searched an apartment while the building was on fire. Later, Garris helped establish a water supply for a fire engine at the scene.

“I believe that the bravery he demonstrated while searching the fire apartment without any protective gear is what we are called to do as firefighters,” Ray wrote in the letter to Parnell. “(Firefighter) Garris could have opted to avoid any risks and could have easily continued his day, but he did not. He gave himself to help the citizens of Durham along with his brother and sister firefighters that he did not know.”

• The City Council will receive a funding request from RowanWorks Economic Development.

RowanWorks will request $114,088 to help fund its 2017-2018 fiscal year budget. It represents an increase of $25,000 from the prior year.

In a proposed budget for the 2017-2018 year, RowanWorks pegs its total budget at $869,518. An overwhelming majority of that money — $616,403 — comes from Rowan County. The remainder comes from municipalities and private companies. At $436,381, salaries represent the largest single expanse.

• The City Council will receive an update from Police Chief Jerry Stokes.

• The City Council will consider revising parking restriction on the south side of the 700 block of Hedrick Street, which is adjacent to the W.G. “Bill” Hefner VA Medical Center. The City Council will consider increasing the time limit from 30 minutes to one hour.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.