The Audubon Fire Department is getting closer to construction of the new fire station as the city is now accepting sealed bids for the project. Designed by JEO Architecture, the new station will be located at 207 Market Street and will consist of a 16,000 square foot pre-engineered metal building with an apparatus bay, storage rooms, along with offices, kitchen, and other spaces for department members for training and meetings. This project has been many years in the making, with a bond referendum failing to reach the required 60 percent vote to pass, the city looked for other resources for funding, securing a $2.8 million low-interest loan through the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program. The department has occupied the current fire hall since 1975 and three additions were needed, including the 1996 ambulance bay that no longer can store the new emergency vehicle purchase in 2017 due to its size. A pre-bidding meeting will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17 at Audubon City Hall. Formal sealed bids must be submitted by 11 a.m. on March 31 to the city clerk, with the city council reviewing and considering the proposals at the April 7 meeting. Construction is scheduled to get underway this season, with an anticipated competition date sometime in August of 2027.
