New Southern Stone fire station to host ribbon cutting and open house
After three years of extensive planning, the Board of Directors for the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District approved the construction of a new fire station which will cover the Kimberling City area and expand the current number of career firefighters for the district. The new station will host a ribbon cutting and open house on May 10, at 2 p.m. at 14743 Business Highway 13. Additional parking is available across the street at Holiday Planners.
Southern Stone County Fire Chief, Keith Wolven stated, “This new fire station project is the culmination of years of extensive planning beforehand and extensive planning for the growing future of our area.”
The 14,350 square foot fire station is being constructed next to the district’s maintenance building located at 14743 Business 13. The total project cost is $2 million, with the district financing half of the project, and the remaining half coming out of the district’s capital expense fund.
“Fiscally, this new fire station is conservative, but is designed for the foreseeable future.” Remarked Chief Wolven.
The current Station 2 located on Fire Station Road off James River Road. It is one of the oldest, if not the oldest station in the district. It was constructed prior to the formation of the fire district and inherited when the district was formed.
In 2016 the district hired its first full-time career firefighters which are housed at Station 1. The new Station 2 will have crew quarters which will allow for the hiring of additional career firefighters to cover the new station around the clock.
“Kimberling City is a high populous area in Southern Stone Fire Protection District and with the continued growth of the area we wanted to improve our level of service to our residents and visitors,” Deputy Fire Chief Mike Moore said. “Overall, our district has seen an increase in calls for our service. In 2016, we responded to 2,560 calls. In just a five-year timeframe our call volume increased to nearly 3,000 and Station 2’s response area has responded to almost a third of those calls.”
The average, per-square-foot cost of building a fire station in the United States is between $190 to $250 depending on geography. This new station project construction cost was bid at $125 per square foot. Another additional cost-saving benefit was being able to construct the new station on property the district already owns.
“Even after looking at two other potential sites, we felt it was more fiscally responsible to build on the property where our current supply building sits next to the maintenance shop,” Wolven added.
The bid of $1,799,000 submitted by Branco Enterprises was chosen, which was the lowest of four bids. The additional funding for the project will cover the cost of furnishing the fire station with gear storage, kitchen appliances and dining furniture, office furniture, sleeping quarters, and training room tables and chairs.
Moore concluded, “As a fire district, we sincerely believe that this project is a move in the right direction for the people of our district and we have remained fiscally responsible to our citizens in this project. We sincerely believe that, when it is completed, it will be something our communities will be proud of.”
Southern Stone County Fire Chief, Keith Wolven stated, “This new fire station project is the culmination of years of extensive planning beforehand and extensive planning for the growing future of our area.”
The 14,350 square foot fire station is being constructed next to the district’s maintenance building located at 14743 Business 13. The total project cost is $2 million, with the district financing half of the project, and the remaining half coming out of the district’s capital expense fund.
“Fiscally, this new fire station is conservative, but is designed for the foreseeable future.” Remarked Chief Wolven.
The current Station 2 located on Fire Station Road off James River Road. It is one of the oldest, if not the oldest station in the district. It was constructed prior to the formation of the fire district and inherited when the district was formed.
In 2016 the district hired its first full-time career firefighters which are housed at Station 1. The new Station 2 will have crew quarters which will allow for the hiring of additional career firefighters to cover the new station around the clock.
“Kimberling City is a high populous area in Southern Stone Fire Protection District and with the continued growth of the area we wanted to improve our level of service to our residents and visitors,” Deputy Fire Chief Mike Moore said. “Overall, our district has seen an increase in calls for our service. In 2016, we responded to 2,560 calls. In just a five-year timeframe our call volume increased to nearly 3,000 and Station 2’s response area has responded to almost a third of those calls.”
The average, per-square-foot cost of building a fire station in the United States is between $190 to $250 depending on geography. This new station project construction cost was bid at $125 per square foot. Another additional cost-saving benefit was being able to construct the new station on property the district already owns.
“Even after looking at two other potential sites, we felt it was more fiscally responsible to build on the property where our current supply building sits next to the maintenance shop,” Wolven added.
The bid of $1,799,000 submitted by Branco Enterprises was chosen, which was the lowest of four bids. The additional funding for the project will cover the cost of furnishing the fire station with gear storage, kitchen appliances and dining furniture, office furniture, sleeping quarters, and training room tables and chairs.
Moore concluded, “As a fire district, we sincerely believe that this project is a move in the right direction for the people of our district and we have remained fiscally responsible to our citizens in this project. We sincerely believe that, when it is completed, it will be something our communities will be proud of.”