Another fire station joins the roster of those completed as the City of Kansas City, Mo., continues to meet the strong citizen mandate to repair, upgrade and build new public safety facilities. On Tuesday, November 21, a symbolic uncoupling of fire hoses was held at Fire Station 16, 9205 N.W. 112th St., in lieu of a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Representatives from the Fire Department, elected officials and City staff rededicated the recently remodeled fire station, which is located on Kansas City International Airport property. After the ceremony, tours of the facility were provided.

Construction of the approximately $2.5 million project began in October 2005 and was substantially complete in August 2006. The project has been funded completely by the quarter-cent sales tax for operation of the Fire Department that includes capital improvements, which Kansas City voters passed in August 2001.

The Capital Improvements Management Office managed the completion of this project. The station was designed by Hoefer Wysocki Architects and constructed by Julius Kaaz Construction Co. Inc.

The remodeled fire station is a 9,000-square-feet, one-story structure with three bays, and one pumper company and a MAST ambulance will be assigned to this facility. With a new entry on the south side of the building, the facility has a new visitor parking area with handicapped space, and the parking lot has been resurfaced. In addition to the complete renovation of the station's mechanical heating and cooling, and plumbing systems, the station's electrical system has been updated, including the replacement of the existing transformer and the addition of an emergency generator. The facility has been updated using durable materials and systems to ensure low maintenance and utility costs.