Audubon County residents head to the polls next week to decide on the future of a proposed new fire station in town. The structure currently used by the department was built in 1971 as a car dealership, and Audubon Fire and Rescue moved into the building in 1975. The building has been added to three times since then, but the facility can no longer be expanded due to floodplain issues and existing property lines. According to City Administrator Joseph Foran, the station, if approved, will be about 11,700 square feet.
The project’s proposed design is a phased approach that would allow for future additions and growth. The first phase includes four bays for trucks and vehicles to enter. The general obligation bond referendum for $2.8 million will appear on the Tuesday, March 7th special election ballot. Foran says this bond would affect taxpayers by about a $3 increase per $1,000 of taxable assessed valuations. He adds with Fiscal Year 2024 maximum property tax levy already being set; the increase will appear in FY25.
The vote needs a 60 percent margin to pass. Foran says early voting is available at the Audubon County Courthouse. Individuals can go to the Agri Hall at the Audubon County Fairgrounds next week to vote from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. To date, the Audubon Fire and Rescue volunteers have raised over $355,000 to help pay for the new building.
