City Council to consider proposal for a 10th fire station

COLUMBIA — According to documents released by the city in preparation for the annual City Council retreat, construction of a 10th fire station is being proposed at an estimated cost of $3,475,000.

This sum includes the cost of the building, an additional pumper truck and minimum staffing costs. It does not include the cost of land.

In his State of the City address on Wednesday morning, City Manager Bill Watkins said it costs about $1 million a year to operate a fire station, a sum he said the city "frankly cannot afford in today's economy."

The council will consider the proposal this weekend and try to identify sources of funding.

Several locations are being considered:

• Stadium Boulevard, north of Interstate 70
• Broadway east of U.S. 63
• The junction of Stadium Boulevard and U.S. 63
• Sinclair Road, southeast of Station No. 7