Bismarck voters approved using city sales tax revenues to fund a new north side fire station, but soundly opposed the city moving forward with a quiet rail zone to end trains blowing their horns through the city.

The question on funding of the north side fire station, which will cost about $2.5 million, with city sales tax saw 5,560 (78.6) yes votes to only 1,514 (21.4) no votes.

The $4 million quiet rail zone was opposed nearly 2-to-1 as 4,602 (64.56 percent) voted no and 2,526 (35.44 percent) voted yes.

"I think the people may have had some sticker shock at the cost of the quiet rail zone," Mayor John Warford said. "If it had been a close vote it may have been due to voter misinformation, but by that large a vote it was probably more a philosophical vote and people just don't mind the noise."

The quiet rail vote was advisory in nature and it will be up to the city commission to decide whether to proceed with the project.

Warford noted that Bismarck has used city sales tax for capital infrastructure expenditure in the past and feels the funding of a new city fire station is a good use of that money.

"I'm pleased to hear people voted for the fire station and look forward to starting construction on it," Warford said.

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