PRESCOTT – The Prescott Area Fire and EMS Commission met Jan. 14 to discuss building a potential new fire/public safety building and cost sharing facilities. The Fire and EMS Commission members include the City of Prescott and Oak Grove and Clifton townships.

Prescott City Administrator Matt Wolf presented the proposal, reminding attendees that building costs for the city’s fire facilities are not currently shared by all Fire Commission members. They are funded solely by Prescott.

Cedar Corporation’s draft plans propose creating a shared public safety building. How did the idea come about?

In January 2024, Cedar Corp completed a comprehensive Municipal Facilities Needs Assessment for the City of Prescott, evaluating the current conditions and future needs of the Police, Fire, City Hall, EMS, and Library facilities.

On June 5, 2024, Prescott City Council held a workshop to review the Space Needs Study and discuss potential building repairs. Under the current timeline, any construction would not begin until 2029, with anticipated completion in 2030/2031. During the workshop, council reviewed options for a future public safety building and discussed whether City Hall should be included in that facility or whether it should remain at its current location with remodeling and expansion.

According to meeting packet notes, on Aug. 12, 2024, the city council approved an agreement with Cedar Corporation to prepare concept plans and cost estimates for improvements to City Hall, the Police Department, the Library, and the Fire Department. On July 28, 2025, the city council held a workshop to review the concept plans and cost estimates. Based on the plans the council decided it was best to move forward with just a Public Safety facility that would combine Police, Fire and EMS. The Library and City Hall would remain in their existing building with a possible future expansion.

City officials are asking Fire & EMS Commission members to review cost sharing for the Oak Grove building for the fire portion and for the possible new Public Safety Building in Prescott. For the Prescott building, the cost sharing would only cover the Fire and EMS portions of the facility.

Wolf spoke of deficiencies in the current fire hall at 260 Flora St. S., including firefighter parking challenges, aging kitchen and bathroom facilities, worn building siding, and insufficient storage space. He said the fire call volume is projected to increase in the coming years. A new facility would provide improved storage capacity, accessibility, and opportunities for future expansion.

Wolf said the city is interested in purchasing 845 Dexter St./1607 Pine St. for the new building, but formal discussions haven’t begun. The old Jacques Seed Building was listed as an alternative site of interest.

Wolf estimated total borrowing costs at $4,403,428, assuming a 5% interest rate with a 20-year general obligation bond. Initial payments would begin in 2030. The proposal includes back payments to Oak Grove for the construction of Fire Station #2. Estimated annual costs were outlined as follows:

• Clifton Township: $40,281
• Oak Grove Township: $112,233
• City of Prescott: $200,699

Clifton and Oak Grove members said they’d bring the question back to their boards for consideration.