Branson breaking ground on fire station with $5M budget

A groundbreaking ceremony is being held for a fire station in the city of Branson that's been years in the making.

The event for the Branson Fire Department building, 251 Champagne Blvd., is scheduled tomorrow at 10:30 a.m., according to city officials.

The fire station, which would join three others in the city, has a total projected budget of $5 million, said Branson Communications Director Lisa Rau. She noted the construction is funded by a half-cent public safety sales tax approved by residents in 2017.

The Branson Board of Aldermen on May 9 accepted a $4.1 million bid from Construct Cos. LLC for the project, according to city officials.

The Branson board in 2018 voted to approve a $350,000 land purchase contract for the new fire station, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. Wyndham Vacation Resorts Inc. was the seller of the 9 acres in southwest Branson.

“The safety of our residents and visitors is our No. 1 priority. This land purchase is part of how we are fulfilling our promise to the community when they passed the public safety sales tax,” Branson Fire Chief Ted Martin said in a news release at the time. “It’s important for our citizens to see how we are spending the money and the life-saving benefits.”

Officials previously said the new fire station would reduce wait times in the southwest portion of the city near the Pointe Royale golf community.