Facing widespread roof leaks, HVAC failures, mold issues and decades of deferred maintenance, Cleveland is seeking a contractor to map out and finance major repairs

By Sean McDonnell
cleveland.com

CLEVELAND — Cleveland is putting together a plan to renovate fire and EMS stations across the city, many of which need major repairs to fix glaring issues like roof leaks or problems with heating and air conditioning.

The city is seeking out a contractor that can map out the needed repairs, handle the construction and pay for the entire project using savings — similar to the plan Cleveland chose to make $21 million worth of repairs to the city’s five police district buildings.

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Cleveland issued the request for qualifications just before Thanksgiving and hopes to receive bids until mid-January.

City officials recently celebrated the opening of a new fire station 26 in the Kinsman neighborhood, combining the operations of two former stations in a state-of-the-art facility.

But Cleveland has also seen maintenance issues lead to fire stations closing.

Fire Station 30 in Glenville had a leaking roof and after heavy rains in May it was shut down and firefighters were moved to other stations. A hazmat contractor was brought in to see if remediation was needed, and the station reopened within the past month.

A facilities condition report from 2024 shows that roof leaks are common, and that most of Cleveland’s fire stations need major repairs. Often, firefighters and paramedics both work out of these stations.

That includes Fire Station 1, which is also the Cleveland Fire Division’s headquarters. The 2024 report said basement office space needs to be demolished to remediate a mold intrusion problem. The main sump pit had to be sealed according to code, because it “allows noxious gases and insect infestation into office space areas.”

Fire Station 1 also needs HVAC upgrades as employees can’t set a temperature in the building. They can only turn heating and cooling on or off.

These kinds of issues are persistent, according to the 2024 report.

Several fire stations list roof repairs or replacements as a major need. Almost a dozen fire stations and the Fire Training Academy all cite significant HVAC needs, in the city’s 2024 fire facility condition report.

The facilities report also points to windows and doors that need to be replaced, leaking pipes and electrical issues that need to be fixed at various stations.

City Council has been pressuring Mayor Justin Bibb to improve conditions across the city’s public safety facilities.

Councilman Mike Polensek said it’s a problem of constant deferred maintenance, saying small repairs were ignored until they became big problems. He referenced the popular Fram oil filter commercial from the 1970s: “Pay now or pay later.”

“One administration after another has just kicked the can down the street,” Polensek said.

Polensek said the city also needs to set aside a budget and create a plan for maintenance going forward, which could include pre-negotiated deals with local contractors to make repairs when they arise.

Jake Konys, president of the union that represents Cleveland firefighters, said part of the problem is deferred maintenance, but some of the city’s fire stations are also old and hard to retrofit.

The new fire station 26, for example, has a decontamination zone far away from their living quarters where firefighters can place their gear after responding to a call. Then there’s another area nearby with machines designed to clean off contaminants that get on firefighters’ gear while fighting fires.

It is harder to build that kind of buffer in an old station, where garages are right next to firefighters’ dorms, Konys said.

He said he hopes City Hall takes time to get feedback from firefighters as they work to renovate or replace fire stations.

“We’re optimistic that the city seems to be taking a serious approach on addressing these outstanding issues, and we look forward to seeing what that plan is,” Konys said.

The city will look at potential repairs at all the existing fire stations and potential new fire and EMS facilities, according to documents Cleveland posted with the RFQ.

Cleveland is looking for a firm that can renovate the fire stations on a guaranteed energy savings performance contract. It’s a unique form of financing that allows the city to pay for construction with savings from energy efficiency and procurement.

In these types of contracts cities pay for construction upfront, often with a loan, and they finance it overtime with savings from the new buildings. The reduced heating bills from new windows and HVAC, for instance, are tracked. And overtime the project is considered “budget neutral.”

These contracts can also include a firm handling procurement for a city, helping it purchase goods and services at a lower cost.

Cleveland selected Leopardo Energy, based in Chicago with an office in Cleveland, to use this kind of financing to make repairs at the city’s five police districts.

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