The Branson Board of Aldermen voted to approve an ordinance to increase the budget for a design contract for Fire Station #4 by $115,500 due to inflation at the August 23, 2022, Board of Aldermen meeting.

The initial contract with Hoefer Welker, LLC was not to exceed $390,000. The new contract approves design services not to exceed $505,500. Fire Chief Ted Martin explained to the Board that a lot of financial calculations and plans were done pre-COVID and due to inflation, the total projected budget of Fire Station #4 will also need to increase from $3.1 million to $4.5 million dollars. Fire Station #4 will be funded from the half-cent Public Safety Sales Tax that the residents of Branson passed in 2017.

“We committed to our citizens a fire station design to fit the fire rescue needs as well as a building comparable to the area served. Unfortunately, we too have seen the effects of inflation based on our conceptual design pre-COVID to today's current pricing,” said Branson Fire Rescue Chief Ted Martin.

Fire Station #4 will have a projected maximum 11,000 sq. feet and will be built in Ward 3 in the south part of Branson off State Highway 165 on Champagne Boulevard to reduce fire and emergency response times. This fire station will be designed to house up to six firefighters, three drive-through bays, and a community/training room.

To watch the full discussion and presentation, find the August 23, 2022 Board of Aldermen meeting at BransonMo.Gov/Livestream. For more information about this project, click on the blue tab labeled “City Projects – A Look at Where Our City is Headed” on the City’s website, BransonMo.Gov.