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By Brandi Makuski
PLOVER – The Plover Village Board on Tuesday approved a $10,000 design contract with Keller Inc. to address temporary remodeling needs for the village's emergency response quarters.
The move comes after the state informed the village that current EMS quarters were not meeting compliance standards and immediate action was required.
Village Administrator Steve Kunst explained the proposal during the meeting, saying the state has given the village a strict timeline for submitting plans to address compliance issues. The temporary remodel includes changes to the EMS bedrooms and kitchen that will benefit staff in the long term.
“This is a temporary solution that does not impact our larger plans for emergency medical services and fire departments,” Kunst said, adding that the improvements will bridge the gap pending the completion of a proposed comprehensive construction project, which, if approved, will be approved. is expected around 2027 or 2028.
Fire Chief Mark Deaver said when the village's community center was built, Plover did not have full-time staff sleeping in the building, so the current quarters are temporary.
“If we don’t meet the state’s requirements on time, they could prevent us from using current quarters,” Deaver said. “We have been given years to address this issue and now is the time to act.”
Keller has already completed a comprehensive analysis of the building, including structural engineering assessments, and will oversee the smaller renovation work, said Kunst. Trustees discussed the design and construction process and expressed confidence that the temporary improvements would not be in vain once the larger project was underway.
Trustee Adam Raabe asked about the total cost, to which Kunst clarified that the final figures would depend on detailed design work and bidding processes. The board agreed that the $10,000 contract would allow Keller to provide a more accurate cost estimate.
“This is a great opportunity to evaluate Keller’s management process before committing to a $23 million project,” Deaver added, referring to the planned new police and fire facilities.
The approved design includes temporary walls and a small kitchen in the current training room, which will later be returned to its original use.
The motion to approve the design contract was unanimously approved.