After the first round of bids for renovation of the Calistoga Fire Station failed to meet City Hall expectations, a Windsor-based contractor won a contract for the job with a bid of just under $1.2 million — about $192,000 below the company’s first-round bid.

Ron Vann, owner of Ron Vann Construction spoke to the Calistoga City Council on Tuesday and said that he was able to slice the difference from his bid “because his subcontractors went back and sharpened their pencils” to get the job.

Vann said the current tough economy has companies willing to cut into their profits because jobs — especially jobs for local cities, are rare in this economy, “and people want to work,” he said.

With the break in construction costs, Calistoga City Councilman Gary Kraus suggested giving a fair percentage of the $145,000 pledged by the Calistoga Fire Fighters Association back to the group.

Kraus is a former Calistoga Fire Chief.

Steve Campbell, the current Calistoga Fire Department chief, said that after some discussion, the group preferred to stay committed to their pledge. The entire amount of their pledge will remain committed to the showroom part of the renovation project slated to house an antique fire engine and other Calistoga fire company memorabilia.

The Calistoga volunteer fire company is one of the first formed in California, and will celebrate 126 years in existence in 2010.

While renovation of the Washington Street fire house is going on, the firefighters and their gear will take up residence in the warehouse across First Street from Cal Mart. The firefighters could be in their temporary home before month’s end, Campbell said.

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