Oxnard Fire Department officials are seeking $9.2 million in federal stimulus money to build a fire station and refurbish three others.
“It’s a competitive grant but I think we’ve shown a need,” Assistant Fire Chief Brad Windsor said.
The City Council approved the application at a meeting Tuesday night as well as a request another $211,000 in federal money to pay about 20 percent of the cost for equipping city firefighters with new radios, said Windsor.
The money would come from $210 million that is earmarked specifically for fire station construction under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed earlier this year. Oxnard, like most local governments, has been aggressive at pursuing money under the $787 billion economic stimulus.
That station, opened in the 1950s, is the oldest now operating in the city, Windsor said. “It’s pretty beat up,” he said.
A new station would likely be built near Channel Islands Boulevard and Ventura Road, allowing the city to close Station 3.
The rest of the grant money, a little more than $3 million, would go toward fixing up Fire Stations, 2, 5 and 6. The city is also building a new station, Station 8, at College Park. Another station is planned for the northwest portion of Oxnard.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Pretty sweet deal. Hesperia City is doing the same thing with the new co sta 301. If they get that bad boy paid for they will take the same plans and build another in the north east side….now just the money to staff em. We can just leave em empty like Apple Valley I guess =)
You must log in to post a comment.