Fairfield fire station vote is Tuesday

FAIRFIELD — Fairfield voters will go to the polls next week to decide whether the city can borrow $5 million for a new fire station.

The vote is Tuesday, March 1, and is open to people who live in Fairfield’s city limits. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and will occur in Fairfield’s five wards.

The polling places of the respective wards are as follows:

Fairfield 1st Ward: Fairfield High School Auditorium Lobby, 605 E. Broadway Ave.

Fairfield 2nd Ward: Former Lincoln Elementary School, 401 W. Stone Ave.

Fairfield 3rd Ward: Nazarene Family Center, 507 W. Briggs Ave.

Fairfield 4th Ward: Jefferson County Courthouse Lobby, 51 E. Briggs Ave.

Fairfield 5th Ward: Pence School Building, 1006 S. 6th St.

Registration

Preregistered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a regular ballot. Voters who are not preregistered — such as voters registering to vote on Election Day — and voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence.

A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification (or prove residence if required) may:

1) Have the voter’s identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct;

2) Prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents; or

3) Cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of identity/residence at the county auditor’s office by noon on Monday, March 7. Election Day registrant attesters must provide an approved form of identification. For additional information about providing proof of identity and/or residence visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/voterid or call 641-472-2840.

Any voter who is physically unable to enter a polling place has the right to vote in the voter’s vehicle. For further information, contact the Jefferson County Auditor’s office at: 641-472-2840; email: auditor@jeffersoncountyia.com.

Those who are unsure where they should vote can contact the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office at the number listed above, or by entering their home address into the polling place finder on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx.

What’s at stake

If the vote to borrow up to $5 million is approved on Tuesday, the City of Fairfield plans to build a new fire station at the corner of West Briggs Avenue and North Fourth Street on property previously owned by the Iowa Department of Transportation. The city plans to demolish the DOT buildings and build a 19,000-square-foot fire station, complete with a storm-rated command center and nearby training tower. The city expects the fire station to cost $6 million, and plans to use $1 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to supplement the $5 million in bonds. City officials have said they do not need to raise property taxes to pay for the station because the city will be paying off old debt as it incurs this new debt from the fire station.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com