The City of Mandan is moving forward with a new fire station that will improve response times to areas in the southeast portion of the community, including Memorial Highway.

The city commission, meeting Tuesday, had put just more than $700,000 in the 2007 budget for a new fire station. Plans had been to put it on city property at the fire department training grounds near Centennial Park, according to Fire Chief Steve Nardello.

But after looking at response times to the Lakewood and Marina Bay areas, Nardello approached developer Lee Mitzel about purchasing property near 46th Avenue or 40th Ave.

"Because Lakewood is his development, Lee Mitzel, who is concerned about good emergency response times, said he would rather donate the land to the city," Nardello said. "Mitzel's proposal is to donate 1.98 acres of land at the intersection of 40th Avenue and 19th Street."

The city will have to absorb $15,000 of specials applied to the property, along with having it platted. Nardello also said that fill will have to be brought in to bring the property out of the 100-year flood plain, though Mitzel Builders is willing to provide the fill.

"This is an ideal location and a great opportunity, which I recommend we accept," Nardello said. "Response times are greatly improved. The location of the proposed station would serve various locations in the city, including Memorial Highway, Twin City, Third Street, Plainview, as well as others."

Commissioner Tim Helbling said that the city has been accused of not planning ahead, yet the fire station has been in discussion for two to three years.

Nardello suggested that the approximately $19,000 it will cost to develop plans for the property should come out of the $702,785.60 that is in the 2007 budget. Since the funding is in place, there would be no additional budget request or need to raise the tax mill levy for the station. Nardello also said that the city had accepted a grant earlier in the year that will help with staffing of the new station.

Commissioner Sandra Tibke moved to approve acceptance of the donation and move forward with planning for the new fire station, which was approved unanimously.

The commission also approved a request from Nardello to purchase a new fire engine for the department. Originally, the fire department had budgeted $73,000 to purchase a brush truck, but after searching for a vehicle, costs were in the area of $100,000.

The fire chief said that a new engine would be much more beneficial to the department and rather than spending $100,000 or more for the limited use a brush truck will get, he recommended the city purchase a new fire engine at a cost of nearly $300,000. With the trade-in received from the medical truck and the budgeted $73,000, Nardello requested a loan from the city's general fund of $111,943.

Repayment of the funding will be made with funds received annually from the Insurance Tax Distribution fund. Last year the department received $60,000, and Nardello said he expects more this year and next.

With the purchase of the new engine, the department will have an engine to put at the new station once it's built. The department will still have two engines and a ladder truck at its Collin Avenue station. Nardello said the department will keep its two present brush trucks with intentions of trading off the 1981 truck in 2010 for a used brush truck estimated at $60,000.

Helbling moved to purchase the new engine as recommended by Nardello and the motion passed unanimously.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)