New Beatrice Fire and Rescue Construction Paid Off

BEATRICE – Beatrice elected officials have approved the final construction payment to the general contractor who built the new Beatrice Fire and Rescue Headquarters. The payment to Hampton Commercial Construction totals $92,233. 

The project was aided by a half-cent sales tax approved by voters.  Since going into effect, the additional sales tax has generated about $3.7 million.  A total of $896,000 of that was paid for construction…with the remaining amount going to debt payments.  According to City Administration, $9.8 million in bonds backed by that tax revenue were issued….with about $8.2 million outstanding.

Other sources of funding came from Beatrice Rural Fire Department and interest income.

The total cost to build the new station was about $10.5 million dollars…which included building costs, site acquisition, utilities, fencing, furniture and equipment.

Officials project a small surplus in bond funds…..which would be used to help pay for a back-up 9-1-1 center in the new fire station.

In other action Monday night, city council members voted final approval to a redevelopment plan modification using tax increment financing.   The project includes renovation of a home at 1335 Ella Street….in an area previously declared blighted and substandard.