The cost of the new fire station in Amherstburg is half a million dollars under budget.

Council will receive a report this evening to award the South Fire Station to Niacon Limited, entering into a contract for just under $9.9 million, with the final budget for the entire project being $11.3 million.

The approved budget for the station to be built at the Libro Centre was cut by $507,000.

The new station will combine Station No. 1, located on Sandwich Street next to the Town Hall, with Station No. 3. Station No. 2 will remain in Anderdon.

Amherstburg City Councilor Linden Crain says there are now cuts being made to stay under budget.

“When we started this discussion last year, we had a report from Masri O’ Architects that concluded that if the city were to rehabilitate Stations 1, 2 and 3 rather than build a new one, it would have had to raise nearly $20 million in 2024 to really bring the three stations up to code.”

He says the new station will have much-needed amenities.

“Four gates, bunkers, a shower and disinfection room for firefighters – which we don’t actually have at the stations at the moment. It includes an emergency operations center and offices for various senior administrative staff of the fire department.”

Crain says the health and safety of city employees is extremely important.

“The condition of our stations is currently catastrophic. To be clear, Station No. 1 has no on-site emergency power, rain and snow are penetrating the loading bay gates, water is running down the walls, there are accessibility issues, there are no proper contamination points for firefighters returning to work, no ladies’ showers, there are a number of issues.”

$10.9 million of the project will be financed through loans.

If the council agrees to proceed with the recommended contract, Crain believes construction can begin immediately.

The council meets on Monday at 6 p.m.