Blue Grass to construct $2M public safety building
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By Kurt Allemeier | Saturday, November 17, 2007 |
BLUE GRASS, Iowa — Groundbreaking for the Blue Grass combined public safety building could be done by the end of the year, although the $2 million project still must be put out for bid.
No petition asking to put the project up for a referendum was filed with the city clerk, and the five-member City Council unanimously approved the project Wednesday. Only 11 signatures were needed to call for a special election.
“It is a go,” Mayor Paul Barnes said. “I would like to see a groundbreaking before the holidays.”
The 24,000-square-foot public safety building will house the city’s fire and police departments and Buffalo Volunteer Ambulance Service. Barnes said financing is lined up through the Blue Grass Savings Bank and only needed final approval by the council to proceed.
Phil Jones, president of Buffalo Volunteer Ambulance Service, said his group is pleased the project got the green light.
“We’re finally moving forward and got the backing of everyone,” Jones said, explaining the ambulance service wanted to move to Blue Grass for several years because of the volunteer base and being able to provide better service.
The first hurdle toward construction has been cleared, Blue Grass Fire Chief Larry Guy said.
“We are real happy we made it over this particular hurdle,” he said. “We are ready to get started.”
The mayor will meet with Dan Solchenberger of Shive Hattery, who is engineering the project, to finalize the bid packages. No timetable has been set on putting the project out for bid, returning bids and selecting bids. Guy said he foresees most of the work starting in the spring.
“Everything is arranged and ready to proceed,” Barnes said.
For a $2 million building, the city would pay $80,000 in interest for the first five years, then pay $152,800 on the principle on a 20-year mortgage. Of that, $81,700 would be paid for through tax-increment financing revenue, with the remaining $71,100 coming from the city’s annual budget.
The amounts did not figure future growth that would increase the property tax base nor changes in TIF revenue. Barnes said some work could be done by volunteers to lower the cost.
Kurt Allemeier can be contacted at (563) 383-2360 or kallemeier@qctimes.com.
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