The Kenai City Council voted last week to allocate an additional $20,000 to the city’s fire department for the purpose of replacing the floors in the building.

The fire department was originally set to receive $50,0000 as part of the fiscal year 2022 budget for the project, but additional funding was requested to cover more costs. According to a memo from Director of Public Works Scott Curtin to the council in early May, the original amount wouldn’t be sufficient for the work the floors need.

“Based on the age of the facility it has been known that asbestos containing materials have been found within both the Police and Fire sides of the building,” Curtin wrote in the memo. “As a result, sampling was conducted within the project area and asbestos containing materials were identified within the drywall taping compound and the existing flooring mastic within the medical storage area of the station.”

During the council meeting last Wednesday, Kenai City Fire Chief Tony Prior said the funding will go toward replacing the carpet at the fire department in the living quarters of the facility.

“This is to replace the old carpet that’s in there with a tile, something that we can wax and keep cleaner,” he said. “The additional appropriation was needed.”

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander confirmed via email that there are people currently working in the fire department building, but that “all of the asbestos is encapsulated.”

In total, $70,000 will be appropriated for the project, and construction is slated to begin this summer.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.