Orange City, Iowa — The Orange City City Council approved a construction contract with a Sheldon contractor to expand and renovate the Orange City Fire Station at their meeting on Monday night, August 15th.
Orange City voters overwhelmingly approved a $2.7 million bond issue to help finance the expansion on March 1st. Fire officials say the expansion is needed due to safety and overcrowding issues. The bond passed by almost 84 percent.
The low bid of $2.64 million went to Sheldon-based Poppema-Sikma Construction. The contract stipulates there will be 10,600 square feet of expansion and about 3600 square feet of remodeling. Cannon Moss Brygger and Associates of Sioux City is the architectural firm.
Orange City Fire Chief Denny Vander Wel says the current fire station, built in 1973, lacks adequate training and work space and has limited storage. The chief also says there is an increased need to clean and sanitize equipment, gear, and firefighters, as they get into much more than just wood smoke.
The station is to include a gear room, showers, ADA-compliant restrooms and a chief’s office. The contract says the contractor should achieve substantial completion of the work by October 1st, 2017.
More information on the expansion can be found on the Friends of the Orange City Fire Department’s website, www. friendsoftheocfd.com, or Facebook page.
