By John Gittings
WiscNews
BARABOO, Wis. — Baraboo has been awarded long-awaited federal funding for its future fire and paramedic stations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday that the city of Baraboo is receiving a $24 million Rural Development Program loan, which will fund the upcoming Baraboo Area Fire and EMS District stations. A main station will be on the city’s west side, with a satellite facility on the northeast side.
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Sleeping quarters, a training area for new responders and five fire trucks and ambulance bays will be part of the main facility, which will be about 39,000 square feet and located on a vacant lot owned by the city.
A smaller, 12,500-square-foot satellite facility will feature three bays. The locations were chosen based on call volume for fire and paramedic services, according to Laura Eysnogle, an architect with Five Bugles Design of Eau Claire.
Funding approval was announced after a roughly three-year wait, as the city’s Community Development Authority applied for it in 2023. The funding carries a 40-year repayment plan.
Earlier this year, the city’s Common Council discussed the possibility of needing to apply for general obligation bonds to cover the costs due to uncertainty surrounding federal dollars.
“This marks a major milestone in our efforts to enhance emergency services for the city, village and surrounding towns,” Baraboo Area Fire and EMS District EMS Chief Caleb Johnson said. “We firmly believe these new facilities will have a positive impact for the communities.”
Currently, the district operates from a downtown Baraboo building at 135 4th Street, which was built in 1868 and added to in 1957. Baraboo Area Fire and EMS District serves the city, village of West Baraboo and surrounding rural townships.
“Securing the loan approval from the USDA is certainly a big milestone, but there are still several steps that need to be completed in order to bring the new stations to fruition,” Baraboo Mayor Rob Nelson said.
Estimates in 2023 put the cost of the project at between $22.4 million to $24.8 million. Once bids are received, the city will have a “much firmer grasp” on costs and any additional needed financing, according to Nelson.
The city’s Common Council will put the project out for bid on Tuesday, with a groundbreaking this fall, “if all goes smoothly,” according to Nelson. The city and surrounding communities have until next May to break ground on the stations or they would need to resubmit designs to the USDA and Wisconsin Department of Safety and Public Services.
“We look forward to continuing this progress and sharing more updates as we move toward construction,” Johnson said.
The loan is facilitated through the Rural Development Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program.
“USDA Rural Development is proud to partner with the City of Baraboo to invest in emergency management services that are essential to keeping the community safe,” USDA Rural Development Wisconsin Director Andrew Iverson said in a statement.
He added that the funding is “another example” of President Donald Trump’s administration’s priority of supporting rural first responders and emergency services.
The upcoming facilities will reduce response times, accommodate a larger staff and house the city’s emergency response center, according to Iverson.
“They’ll provide our staff with safe and modern spaces they need to respond more efficiently and effectively to emergencies,” Johnson said, adding that having modern facilities will help the district attract more firefighters and paramedics.
Fire Chief Kevin Stieve said that the new facilities will provide “excellent training opportunities” for future responders.
This move represents a positive step forward for the City of Baraboo and reinforces our shared commitment to public safety and interagency collaboration,” Baraboo Police Chief Justin Carloni said.
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