January Ice Storm Damage to Dickson Fire Station Will Cost About $10,000 After Insurance

Dickson, TN — Damage to Dickson Fire Station No. 3 from January’s ice storm will require more than $34,000 in repairs, with the city expected to pay about $10,000 after insurance proceeds are applied.

The Dickson City Council approved a $34,251 bid from ANS Contracting during its Sept. 1 meeting to repair damage caused by ice buildup at the fire station.

City Administrator Dave Travis said the city initially looked to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance with the repairs but ultimately determined that pursuing FEMA reimbursement was not worthwhile given the amount of money involved and the requirements attached to the process.

“We initially waited on FEMA to help us with that,” Travis told the council. “But there were so many hurdles and things we had to do to get FEMA to pay a minimal amount that we just went ahead and turned it in on our insurance.”

The city's insurance coverage is expected to pay approximately $23,874.24 toward the work.

That would leave the city responsible for $10,376.76 of the $34,251 repair bill.

The damage occurred during the January ice storm when ice dams formed on the building, affecting mechanical vents as well as gutters and fascia.

According to Travis, the damage included areas around the station's mechanical ventilation system where vents extend through the roof.

“The ice dammed up on it and damaged the mechanical vents that come out of the roof,” Travis said.

The building's gutters and fascia also sustained damage.

The city sought bids for the repair work but received only one response. ANS Contracting submitted the sole bid at $34,251.

Despite receiving only one bid, officials recommended moving forward with the company.

Travis told the council that ANS Contracting has previously completed work for the city and that officials have been satisfied with the company's performance.

“They've done work for us in the past and we're happy with their work,” Travis said.

The council approved the contract without opposition.

The project provides an example of the decisions local governments can face when trying to recover expenses following a major weather event.

Although federal disaster assistance can potentially help governments recover some costs, Travis said the administrative requirements involved in pursuing FEMA assistance for the Fire Station No. 3 damage outweighed the relatively small reimbursement the city expected to receive.

Instead, Dickson opted to use its property insurance coverage and pay the remaining portion locally.

Once the anticipated insurance proceeds are applied, the city's direct cost is expected to be approximately $10,377.

The Sept. 1 vote clears the way for repairs to the storm-damaged mechanical vents, gutters and fascia at Fire Station No. 3.