Madison County approves design‑build award and ARPA allocation for north‑county fire station

Madison County Fiscal Court approved a design‑build award Thursday for a new north Madison County fire station, authorizing a contract to Stewart Contracting Corporation not to exceed $4,000,000 and permitting up to $500,000 for county site development costs. County staff said part of the project will be funded through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Program (SLFRP/ARPA).

The fire chief recommended the award after two bids were opened and evaluated. "The Madison County Fire Chief recommended the awarding of the Madison County Fire Department building design and bid to Stewart Contracting Corporation in an amount not to exceed $4,000,000 to comply with components outlined in the request for proposal," the chief told the court.

Judge Reagan Taylor and staff emphasized timing constraints tied to federal recovery funds. "ARPA funds have to be allocated by December 31st, 2024. They don't have to be spent until December 31st, 2026," Taylor said during the discussion, noting the county must authorize allocations now to preserve eligibility.

Commissioners pressed staff on two main points: whether the recommended building footprint (13,000 vs. 15,000 square feet) will fit on the selected site, and whether the chosen location optimizes coverage and insurance‑rating benefits for the greatest number of residents. A commissioner asked whether the court had compared alternative sites that might cover denser neighborhoods such as Madison Village; staff said they had analyzed multiple locations and that the selected site best balanced current coverage gaps and anticipated growth.

Supporters argued the project responds to long‑running service gaps on the county's north side. "It's gonna make my life and be able to raise life a lot easier with our constituents up there in the North side of the county and get being able to have fire, emergency services to our citizens up there, which they've been screaming about a long time," one magistrate said in support of the award.

The court also approved a separate interagency memorandum of understanding with the county road department to complete land and site preparation using SLFRP funds identified by award numbers cited in the record. County staff said the MOU creates an obligation for purposes of the SLFRP rules and allows the county to commit funds to site work ahead of construction.

The judge executive was authorized to negotiate and execute contracts related to the project. Next steps identified by staff include finalizing the site work contract, completing necessary mapping and geotechnical review, and moving forward with design and permitting.