The city of Van Buren has been named a recipient to receive a portion of the Delta Regional Authority’s $2.3 million investments program designed to spur economic growth and improve infrastructure in the state.
Missouri Senator Roy Blunt backed the program, which he said will “make a significant, positive impact in communities across Missouri” by upgrading infrastructure, job training, economic development initiatives and other projects designed to “improve the quality of life for local families.”
Van Buren will receive a total investment exceeding $600,000 and will use the funds to demolish the existing public safety facility, and a new building will be constructed on the site. The former structure housed the police, fire and emergency medical services prior to the flood in 2017.
The funds were first applied for last fall through a partnership between the City of Van Buren and the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission (OFRPC). Alan Lutes, OFRPC assistant director, said receipt of the grant funds was delayed a few months due to FEMA’s work on updating area flood mapping.
Lutes said once the funds were released, contract bidding was opened at the end of February for demolition and new construction of the public safety building. He noted demolition of the old structure is expected to begin in the next three weeks.
New construction is predicted to begin in late March or early April, according to Lutes.
Lutes said the new building’s overall size has been reduced slightly from the previous structure and is planned to be approximately 48 feet x 90 feet. He said the size differential is part of a cost-reducing measure, and the new facility is also planned to be elevated 3 feet more in height than the previous structure due to flooding risk.
Total cost of the new construction has not been finalized and Lutes noted the City of Van Buren will have some above cost associated with the new build.