City to Have a New South End Fire Station

An agreement with Russ Braunecker Buick-Cadillac-GMC is expected to lead to a new fire station on Effingham's south end.

City Administrator Steve Miller told the Effingham City Council Tuesday the proposal is for the Brauneckers to purchase the current fire station building at 2401 S. Banker for $276,000, $200,000 in cash and $76,000 in improvements.

Miller said the City would then purchase the former Apria Healthcare building at 500 W. Jaycee for use as the new fire station. The Apria site would be purchased for $405,000. With an estimated $600,000 renovation to make the building usable as a fire station, and the dollars coming from the Braunecker purchase of the current fire station building, Miller said the move to the new building will cost out at less than $1 million, far less than the cost of a brand new building. The building to be purchased is also larger than the current fire station building.

The purchase of the fire station building will aid the Brauneckers in upcoming expansion plans.