Voters approved a new firehouse for the St. Paul Boulevard Fire Department by a margin of 840 to 435 on June 16.
The vote follows a failed December proposal that drew 485 no votes, 358 yes votes and three invalid ballots.
The $21.8 million project would build a new facility designed to meet modern safety and staffing needs. With this proposal, the estimated impact for the average homeowner is $44 per year.
Officials say the current building, constructed in 1990, no longer meets NFPA 1500 safety guidelines or modern cancer-prevention standards for fire stations.
Officials cited frequent plumbing and HVAC failures and a lack of space for storage, fitness, wellness and training. The firehouse also only has one shower and does not have any private gender-inclusive bunkrooms.
For more information about the firehouse project, visit https://www.stpaulfireny.gov/content/new_building_info/.
— Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Voters back $21.8M St. Paul Boulevard firehouse
Reporting by Kerria Weaver, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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By Kerria Weaver, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
