At a special meeting on July 11, the Manhattan Fire Protection District Board of Trustees took decisive action to advance its new fire station project. The board moved forward with a dual strategy, awarding the majority of the construction bids while simultaneously ordering four key components—roofing, flooring, overhead doors, and landscaping—to be re-bid with revised specifications to cut costs. For more on the construction plan, see the full story.

To fund the project, the board also approved an ordinance to issue up to $8.75 million in general obligation bonds. Officials stressed that the financing method uses alternate revenue sources and will not result in a direct tax increase for residents. A detailed article explaining the bond process is also available.

Fire Station Groundbreaking Set for July 31
The Manhattan Fire Protection District will officially break ground on its new fire station on Thursday, July 31, at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony marks the start of site work for the project. The permit for earthwork has been filed, and building construction is anticipated to begin the second week of August.

Re-Bid Process for Station Components Finalized
The district has set a timeline for the four construction components being re-bid for the new fire station. Bid packages for roofing, flooring, overhead doors, and landscaping will go out shortly, with a public bid opening scheduled for August 7. The board plans to award the final contracts during its regular meeting on August 18, which will also include a public hearing on the project’s financing.