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Board approves $12 million Fire Station 41 replacement funded by Measure H; ARPA used for initial design
Summary
Supervisors approved a new ~9,000 sq ft Fire Station 41 at Kiefer and Garner to replace a 1960-era facility. The project cost is estimated at $12 million, to be financed mainly by Measure H public safety capital reserve; board approved a budget amendment including $1 million in ARPA funds and initial FY26–27 design funds.
Butte County supervisors voted to approve a capital project to replace Fire Station 41 in North Chico, authorizing a new ~9,000-square-foot facility at Kiefer and Garner Lane and a budget amendment that allocates Measure H public safety capital reserve funds and $1 million in ARPA funds for the initial phase.
Mike Hodson, director of general services, said the existing Station 41 (built in 1960) no longer meets operational needs because of age, space constraints and site issues related to Highway 99 reconstruction. Hodson described an estimated $12,000,000 project cost, with $3,000,000 proposed in fiscal year 2026–27 to complete design and begin construction and approximately $8,000,000 for infrastructure and site work.
"Existing Fire Station 41 ... no longer meets modern operational needs due to its age, space constraints, and site limitations caused by Highway 99 reconstruction," Hodson said. Chief Garrett Schoelen and supervisors said the move two miles to Kiefer and Garner would reduce response distances and address safety concerns tied to the station’s current location adjacent to a busy highway.
Supervisors expressed unanimous support during the discussion; one supervisor said the two-mile relocation "could save somebody's life" by reducing response times. The board moved and passed the project and budget amendment unanimously.
Implementation notes: staff said design and elevation work will address local floodplain requirements (projects to be elevated 18 inches above the 100-year floodplain for the new sites) and that project funding will be drawn from the Measure H Public Safety Capital Reserve established after Measure H sales-tax approval in 2024.
Next steps: proceed with design funding in FY26–27 and follow procurement and construction milestones per the county’s capital project schedule.
