By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Marion County Fire District #3 at Ramona has a new fire station.

The building is up but work continues on the interior.

Loewen Trenching of Hillsboro did dirt work, and Jason Schafer’s Building Solutions was contracted to build the facility.

It features three wide bays and extra-wide and high doors.

“It’s built for safety and with an eye toward the future,” 40-year board member Mark Heiser said.

“Equipment is going to get bigger,” board president Mark Lockhart noted.

The interior includes a meeting room, laundry, kitchenette and a bathroom with showers. It even includes a serving window and a handicapped-accessible bathroom for when the department holds public functions.

The building is insulated, with some heat in the truck compartment and heating and air conditioning in the small rooms.

The department has acquired equipment over time as the board has set aside money for a new building.

“This was my vision, and now it is a reality,” Heiser said.

The project was financed with $120,000 in savings, a $25,000 grant, and a $125,000 loan that will be paid back in five years. More grant money may be forthcoming.

Many people contributed to the project. Lockhart’s architectural class at Marion High School drew up the plans, and Mark Meyer’s welding class created metal grates for drainage gutters in the fire station floor.

Evergy Electric and Atmos Energy provided hookups free of charge.

Even earlier, the Union Pacific railroad provided $11,000 to install an underground water tank.

The new building puts the department in compliance with state regulations. The old building, which is next door, will be used for storage and a workshop.

The Ramona Fire Department covers all of Colfax Township and is part of a mutual aid pact among area fire departments.

Fire chief Nathan Brunner is assisted by seven other fire fighters.

“The new station was a big venture,” Heiser said. “It was everybody pulling together to make it all work. Hopefully, we’ve done everything right.”