The Audubon City Council is moving forward with a Nov. 2 election date for a proposed bond referendum to finance a new station for the Audubon Fire Department. According to City Clerk, Joe Foran, the council had several options on when it could be brought to the public for a vote, and the council wanted it on the ballot sooner rather than later. Foran says officials also decided $2.9 million would be the bond amount on the November ballot.
Foran, says approximately $2.1 million would be used to build the new structure on Highway 71 and the remaining $800,000 would be for architect fees and to provide a buffer for unexpected expenses. Foran says the council had been debating setting the referendum as high as $3.75 million to include relocation of Audubon City Hall to the current fire station structure.
The council plans to formally approve the bond language during their September meeting and submit paperwork to the Audubon County Auditor’s Office to officially get the referendum on the ballot. It will require more than 60 percent approval from voters to pass. Foran notes they will be going back to the drawing board if the referendum fails. The first day of absentee voting for the issue is Wednesday, Oct. 13. In-person voting the day of the election will be at the Agri-Hall on the Audubon County Fairgrounds.
