The city pays nothing after elected officials secure state and federal funding
BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. (KOAM) — A historic groundbreaking on Tuesday for a brand new fire station to be built in town. Their current station was built in 1926.
“ Our old fire station served us well for almost 100 years. I am blessed to have in attendance three firefighters that served in that house for 50 of those years. Fmr Chief Les Page, Deputy Chief Art Mallory and Fmr Treasurer Wayne Cook .”
— Deputy Chief Gunnar Wixon
A representative from US Rep Jake LaTurner’s office, Grace, was in attendance and spoke on his behalf saying, “he was very excited about this project and absolutely thrilled to help secure funding.”
Also on behalf of the Congressman she presented flags to the three Honorees on-hand. Flags that have flown over the Capitol.
Senator Tim Shallenburger was a key player in securing funding. He spoke to the hometown crowd gathered, “There is a lot of work that goes into a project like this and the interesting thing, from a political perspective is when I left being Mayor to become I told the City Council I will go get some money for the fire station. And we arrive in Topeka and find there is no money for fire stations. No grant programs for fire stations. So the first call I made was to Congressman LaTurner. He said there’s no federal money for fire stations either. I said what are we gonna do? And he said we gotta go out and find it.”
Congressman LaTurner was able to secure $2 million in an appropriations bill. And State Senator Shallenburger secured $1 million at the state level.
“And basically what the City of Baxter Springs is getting is a [$3 million] federally and state funded fire station with no cost to the city! And that is a wonderful thing.”
— State Senator Tim Shallenburger
He lightheartedly mentioned now he has other towns wanting fire stations, but that is something to worry about another day he said.
Then they turned to turn some ceremonial dirt. Taking a series of photos you can see posed in our live video. Firefighters, Crossland Construction building partners, Mayor, City Council and others.
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