POLSON — A silver shovel broke ground last week on the new Polson Rural Fire District station, which will open next fall just north of the bridge next to the Polson Fairgrounds.

Ground clearing has already taken place, and work will begin on preliminary construction of the 200 x 200 foot facility in the next weeks. Yellowstone Steel contractor Paul Iverson said the goal is to have the building done in 90 days, but several permits are pending.

Rural Fire District board vice chair Paul Laisy said choosing a steel building structure has made the project “quite economical,” about one-third the cost of similar projects. The land was donated to the cause by the county commissioners. Several local businesses have also stepped in to make donations, Laisy said. 

Board chair Alison Meslin said an initial $50,000 of funding will come from the group’s capital reserves, with the rest  being funded during a 15-year period. There will not be an increase in the Rural Fire District’s mill levy because of the building, she said in her speech at the groundbreaking.

Proponents and planners of the project stood by what they saw as a strong need to have a station north of the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge. Meslin said in her speech that the district’s, which includes the rural fire companies working through an interlocal agreement with the city fire station, largest population base lives north of the bridge. All of the companies fight under the Polson Fire Department name, Meslin said.

“They really do need a fire station,” Laisy said. “It’s more appropriate to reach the majority of the residents.

“They looked a call numbers and where the responders are, it just made sense.”

Opponents argued about the cost of the building a time when every budget is stretched to the limit, and an increase of levies or  operating costs. Many wanted a study to be conducted to best determine where a new facility should rest, Laisy said. In the end, that was too expensive, Laisy said.

Rural fire equipment will be housed in the building, which will be the third location for the department.

The county’s Emergency Management office is now in talks with the groups to also  benefit from the building. Two wings may be added to the building for that purpose.

The trustees are looking forward to sharing the building, Meslin said. Cooperation and collaboration from all sides has made the project possible, she said.

County commissioner Bill Barron attended the ceremony on Thursday. He said that like any good project there had been controversy, but, he said, “We’re looking at all the positive sides of it, and I agree with the board, this is going to be a plus and a good thing for everybody.”