Village of Howard Board Approves $2.5 Million Addition to Fire Station No. 2

The Village of Howard Board on April 13 approved a $2.5 million addition to Fire Station No. 2 to improve emergency response in the western portion of the village.

Fire Chief Dennis Staeven told the board the village has worked with contractors about a year and that Miron Construction was the lowest bidder. Staeven said additional design work and code requirements — including ADA compliance, upgraded fire suppression, and HVAC — increased the project estimate from earlier projections.

"This addition is a critical step toward improving response times," Staeven said, describing the western area as continuing to develop and currently falling below national response-time standards. Resident Mike Nieft, speaking during public comment, urged swift approval and said the expansion would address growing emergency-response needs.

Director of Administrative Services Chris Haltom said the project would be financed through borrowing and would have a tax impact. Trustees debated the cost increase: several voiced support for the project’s public-safety rationale while asking for more cost detail or a brief delay to review the updated figures. Trustee John Muraski moved to approve the building addition at a cost of $2.5 million; Trustee Cathy Hughes seconded. The motion carried 8–1 (No: Trustee Chris Nielsen).

Board materials and discussion indicated construction is expected to begin in late spring and be completed in early 2027. Haltom said portions of project financing would be allocated across capital funding sources discussed elsewhere in the meeting packet. The board did not adopt further amendments to the project scope at the meeting.