Construction of new fire station underway in Waterville, funds for the project to be raised throughout the summer

by Kelli Boylen
freelance writer

Construction is underway for a new fire station in Waterville. Waterville Fire and Rescue broke ground at the beginning of May for the new fire station on the north side of the elementary school on the edge of town.
Fire Chief Dan Liddiard says the new station is something the department has been needing for quite some time, and they are very glad it is becoming a reality.
Many different ideas were discussed over the years, but the department decided upon a no-frills station which will meet their needs. The 66’x112’ structure will have five truck bays, a handicapped accessible restroom, a 25’x25’ meeting room and one office. There will also be a full kitchen to be used for department fundraisers such as their annual pancake breakfast.
“I think it  is going to be fantastic,” says Liddiard. “It will not just be a place to store our equipment and trucks, it’s going to be great for training as well. It will be really nice to be able to do training inside without having to pull all the trucks out.” He added that backing the trucks in will also be much safer with the new fire station.
No tax dollars are being used for the construction, instead firefighters and EMTs (emergency medical technicians) will be starting a capital campaign to solicit donated funds. Their fundraising goal is $250,000. The department took out a loan to start construction. “The project will be funded by donations,” says Liddiard. “We actually downsized the original plans to an amount we think we should be able to raise.”
Residents of  Waterville and the rural fire district should expect firefighters and EMTs to start visiting mid-summer. They will make phone calls as well.
Of course, the department would be happy to accept donations from anyone who would be willing to give now and save them the time of making a home visit. There are approximately 430 households in the Waterville Fire District, including those in the town of Waterville, and in Paint Creek, Center, Linton and Jefferson Townships.
Money raised during the department’s two main annual fundraisers, a Car Cruise in September and a pancake breakfast in April, will be used to pay down the loan. They may hold additional fundraisers as well, if needed.
The department took out a 15-year loan for the project, but hopes to have it paid off in less than 10. Those willing to donate will also have the option of pledging the donations over a period of time up to five years. For example, a family could pledge $200 a year for five years to make a total of $1,000.
The Waterville Fire and Rescue Department is a 501(c)3 organization, therefore, donations made toward the project will be tax deductible.
The fire department has a total of six trucks: two pumpers, a mini-pumper, a tanker, a rescue van and a “brush truck,” which is used for grass and wildfires. It also has an ATV and a snowmobile with a sled used for rescues. The ambulance will find a home in the new station as well.
In recent years, as fire trucks have gotten bigger, the Waterville Fire Department actually had to watch out to make sure the trucks they purchased actually fit through the doors of the old fire station. “We have outgrown our current facilities, in more ways than one,” says Liddiard. That will no longer be a problem.
The current building is owned by the City and leased to the fire department. The City of Waterville had purchased the land next to the school on the north side of town about five years ago and deeded it to the fire department as its contribution to the project.
The new station will be stick built with a steel finish inside and out. The department has tried to hire contractors as locally as possible. Initial concrete work was completed by the second week of May. The department plans on holding its annual car cruise at the new building in mid-September.
There are currently 23 firefighters on the department and about a half dozen EMTs. Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter should contact Dan Liddiard at 563-568-2388. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer EMT should contact Carol Gaunitz at 563-586-2819. All firefighters are required to take the Firefighter I class within a year of joining the department. The course is approximately 60 hours long and is usually offered somewhere in Allamakee County each year. Completion of the class is followed by a written exam.
EMT classes consist of 160 hours of classroom time, 40 hours of ambulance ride-along with a minimum of 10 patient contacts, and 24 hours of emergency room observation. Once classes are complete, there is a written National Registry exam and a practical exam.
“We are excited about being able to better serve our community through the use of this new facility. We would like to thank everyone in advance for their support of this project,” says Liddiard.