IA Fire Station Opening Postponed by Shipping Delays

Jun. 25—MARION — The opening of Marion's new fire station has been delayed once more until the end of July.

The new station at 1000 Irish Dr. will be the city's third and will serve as the fire department's headquarters.

"Some of the components and appliances have been delayed in shipping, and there are touch-ups to be made," Marion Fire Chief Deb Krebill told The Gazette.

The station is the city's first new station since 1991, when Marion was around half the size it is today.

The pandemic brought added challenges to the $10.3 million project. And then the Aug. 10 derecho caused minor damage to new building.

In May, the opening was initially pushed back to June due to building materials shortages, a common problem for construction companies over the last year.

A change in management for Christner Construction, the Ottumwa company building the new station, also contributed to the delay.

When complete, the new station will be named Fire Station 1. The current Fire Station 1, at 600 Eighth Ave., will be renamed Fire Station 3.

The current headquarters is at Fire Station 2, 3933 Katz Dr.

A 2015 accreditation study said the city needs four fire stations, with the fourth station to be built near Highway 13 and 35th Avenue.

The city was going to buy the Tri State Towers property at 2957 Highway 13 for the station, but the derecho caused extensive damage to the property and the city backed out of the purchase.

The city continues looking for a suitable site for the station.

Last summer, the Marion City Council approved spending $1.1 million for the fourth station. The city budgeted $400,000 for the project, with the Marion Firefighters Association contributing $695,000, largely through a trust set up by Don and Ruth DeVault.

Comments: (319) 398-8255; [email protected]

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