With economic conditions slowing building projects, SeaTac lawmakers indicated Jan. 13 they are "in the driver's seat" in controlling construction costs.

In that spirit, council members postponed for at least six months design work on a new fire station. They also sent back to committee an ordinance amendment that would have increased design costs for a spray park.

Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher said he objected to the proposed contract with TCA Architects whereby the firm would estimate what was needed for rebuilding the Angle Lake fire station at 2929 S. 200th Street and then receive a percentage of the total costs.

Fisher noted the architects would be "designing their own paychecks."

Mayor Ralph Shape proposed postponing a decision on the design study until the council's July 14 meeting. He said the city might be able to negotiate a lower cost then.

Shape's amendment passed 6-1 with Councilman Tony Anderson voting against it.

On the Valley Ridge Park interactive spray water feature, Parks director Kit Ledbetter presented an amendment to a contract with Murase Associates that increased costs by $14,000.

'I'm torn about it," Shape said. "The way this economy is going, this project is not necessary."

Shape added he wanted to see what the city is getting for its money.

The children's spray park was considered one of Councilman Joe Brennan's pet projects. Brennan died Oct. 14. and has been replaced on the council by Barry Ladenburg.

Councilman Chris Wythe noted he wanted to see the project scaled down.

Lawmakers decided to refer the amendment back to the Land Use and Planning and Transportation and Public Works committees.

In other business, council members, after a long discussion, voted to enter into an Interlocal agreement that could bring a misdemeanor jail to Des Moines.

The South Correctional Entity (SCORE) is a group of King County cities planning to build an $80 million jail.

The preferred site is on Port of Seattle property on South 200th Street near the Des Moines/SeaTac border.

Des Moines and Burien have already approved the plan. Remaining SCORE cities are Tukwila, Federal Way, Renton and Auburn.

Plans for the jail come in response to an announcement by King County officials that they will no longer house misdemeanor offenders after 2012.

Penny Bartley, Renton's jail manager, said the facility could open by July 2011.

Councilwoman Mia Gregerson urged the cities to work more closely with the county on a jail expansion in Kent.

Wythe noted that residents around the possible Des Moines site have already suffered lower home values by being under the Sea-Tac airport flight path.

Shape said costs would be lower for the city with the jail.

"It would be irresponsible not to go ahead," Shape added.

Gregerson voted against the proposal while Tony Anderson, a Port police officer, abstained.