A California fire station closed since 2013 and plagued by construction delays faces another one. This time, it was the placement of a Pacific Gas & Electric meter that ha been keeping Contra Costa County Fire Protection from opening the doors at Station 16 in Lafayette, KGO-TV reports.
Originally, the station, which is in high danger area for wildfires, had been set to open last year. The date then was moved to May 1, and the new opening for the facility in Lafayette's Happy Valley neighborhood is set for Aug. 1, KNTV-TV reports.
"It is extremely frustrating to me," Contra Costa County Supervisor Candace Andersen told KGO. "We got into a back-and-forth argument about whether the meter reader should be placed outside rather than inside, and it should not have required me as a county supervisor getting involved, bringing in PG&E's legal counsel saying 'Enough is enough, we need to move forward with this fire station'."
Budget cuts and building issues led to the closing of Station 16 six years ago. Once the station was tapped to be reopened, the project has traveled a trouble road to completion. Along with the meter issue, winter and spring rain has hampered work, which also suffered from a contractor installing the wrong electrical panel, according to KNTV.
Since May, Station 15 has been providing service to the area, the TV station added.
