Funds will provide new firehouse at Indianola

INDIANOLA -- Indianola will use a $239,000 grant to build a new fire station.

The community development block grant, presented Wednesday by Gov. Mike Johanns, will help Indianola replace a three-stall metal building used as a fire barn since the late 1950's or early 1960's.

Indianola Mayor Cliff Lord said the new fire station will be located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Main Street and Highway 6&34. The fire trucks will exit into the alley, preserving main street parking.

Three aging buildings will be demolished to make way for the new structure.

Lord remembers the south building as a bank, the post office, a lounge and a firing range. Fellow Indianola resident El Krous said, "The newspaper had a printing press in the basement at one time."

Lord mused, "There's lots of history in that old building ..."

The city owns the bank building and Indianola Economic Development owns the next building north. Lord's of Indianola owns the third building.

While in Indianola Wednesday morning, Gov. Johanns also presented a check, for $109,000, to the Farnam Fire Department. Fire Chief Rod Klein said the community probably would not be able to afford a new truck without the grant. The truck the department has looked at costs $175,000, Klein said, and the department will use savings, fund-raisers and some financing to fund the remaining $66,000.

Gov. Johanns said it was not an "average application" that was funded with Community Development Block Grant funds. The Governor's office announced the award Wednesday of nearly $4 million to 25 projects.

"There is more demand than money available," Gov. Johanns said. "Those successful communities had good grant applications and did all the right things to be funded."

In a prepared press release, the Governor said, "Continual investment in our rural communities pays big dividends in the form of prospering trade and commerce centers that contribute to the overall well-being of our state and quality of life. People experience the vitality that exists here and truly understand that Nebraska is a great place to live, raise families and grow highly successful businesses with reliable, quality workers."

Holding the ceremonial check from Gov. Johanns, Indianola Mayor Cliff Lord said it is nice to have a governor who cares about the small communities and rural areas of Nebraska.