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Plans to Seek Grant for New Fire Station Advance

By Greg Bebermeyer and Heidi Wolfgang

01/26/2016

(KMZA)-- Plans to seek a state grant for the construction of a new fire station in the Nemaha County community of Bern have taken another step forward.

No public comment was received during a hearing at Monday’s Nemaha County Commission meeting on the county’s plans to seek a KAN-STEP grant through the Kansas Department on behalf of Bern Fire District #4.

Following the hearing, the Commission approved an inter-local agreement with the fire district supporting the grant application.

Bern Fire Chief Eldon Kaster told MSC News that a new fire station is needed. Kaster says their current building is an old military Quonset that was torn down and reassemble by volunteers in the 1960’s. He says the building only has one door for all the trucks to exit from. In addition, Kaster said the building leaks and has a mold and rodent problem.

The maximum KAN-STEP grant is $300,000 and requires at least a 35 percent local match in the form of “ sweat equity” and donated equipment.

The fire department has a committee working to make the February 15th grant application deadline.

If awarded, the department hopes to have a new fire station by the summer of 2017.

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