×
×
homepage logo

City purchases land for new fire hall

By Staff | Aug 12, 2011

The City of Rugby has purchased a 330′ x 150′ lot on Hwy 3 (between Rugby Homes and RV Center and the Growing Place daycare center) for a new fire hall. The preliminary projected total cost of the project is between $1 million and $1.1 million.

The building and property committee met with members of the Rugby Fire Department on June 21 to discuss and review preliminary building plans. The building will be 150′ x 60′ which includes parking and training areas combined. A sketch of the facility will be released when plans are totally finalized.

“We’d like to get the lot filled, if possible, this fall and let it set over the winter,” said Mayor Dave Cichos. “The actual construction of the building is projected to be completed in the fall of 2012.”

“We are moving ahead with the project,” said Ffire Chief Gerald Kurtyka. Positive things are happening. It’s a good location.”

He added that it will be nice to be all on one level. The new facility has a parking bay for each of the department’s units, a training and meeting room, small kitchen and bathroom. They fire trucks will enter onto the frontage road which is safer than the situation was downtown.

The city will begin fundraising to raise between $500,000-$600,000 for the new facility. The city has received a total of $125,000 from the Rugby Job Development Authority and Economic Development Corporation to start the fund.

Anyone wishing to donate to this fund may send a check to: Rugby’s new fire hall fund, City Hall, 223 S. Main Ave., Rugby, ND, 58368.

Last fall the Rugby Fire Department had found a site for consideration alongside the Southside Park where the basketball courts are currently located. However, there were residents who were concerned about having the fire department so close to where kids are playing. The fire department held an informational picnic in the park so that residents had the opportunity to see just where the proposed site was located.

Some residents agreed with the site location, but many still had concerns. The city reviewed the situation and made the decision to choose another location on Highway 3 for the new fire hall. The city’s building committee met with an architect and developed plans for the new location. They have consulted with the fire department on the plans and are now moving ahead with the project.

The new facility will give the fire department much needed room. They have outgrown the downtown building which has housed the fire trucks since the fifties.