Construction of new fire station begins, part of several projects in the works in Grain Valley

     Construction began this week as crews began moving dirt at the location of a new fire station to be located at the corner of Duncan Road and Dillingham Road. 
     Tim Anderson, Deputy Chief of Operations for Central Jackson County Fire Protection District, said the process, which began with the approval of a tax levy increase and bond approval in early 2021, moved to the construction phase following the approval of bids at the end of August.       "We decided on a design/build process to construct the station and McCown Gordon Construction was chosen in this process.  We wrapped up the design phase of the project in early June of this year, and McCown Gordon sent the specifications out for bidding purposes for the construction of the station.  They received the bids, and those bids were approved by our Board of Directors on August 30th, 2022.  Construction mobilization began earlier this week with dirt being moved," Anderson said. 
     "We anticipate that construction will be completed by late September to early October of 2023 and anticipate being in the station in late October weather permitting.  We will be staffing an engine and an ambulance out of the station, with storage for reserve apparatus and other ancillary equipment."
     Ground will soon be broken on the south end of town for Mid-Continent Public Library's (MCPL) new branch. On Thursday, November 10, at 9:00am, Mid-Continent Public Library staff and local leaders will break ground on the new Grain Valley Branch at 400 SW Buckner Tarsney Road, The brand-new building will be located approximately a mile south of the current Grain Valley Branch at 101 SW Eagles Pkwy., which it will replace when it opens in late fall 2023.
     The current Grain Valley Branch, located in a local storefront MCPL has leased since 2014, will remain open for services until construction of the new building is complete. As well as 4,000 additional square feet, the new building will offer customers a variety of upgraded amenities, including:

• An enclosed community program room
• Two meeting rooms
• A dedicated children’s area
• Teen area
• Outdoor seating.
  
  

     Replacement of the Grain Valley Branch is part of the Library’s ongoing Capital Improvement Plan, made possible by an increase to Library funding through the passage of Proposition L by voters in 2016. Since that time, the Library has renovated or replaced nearly all of its 30+ locations and added a brand-new branch in Lee’s Summit. Design work for the Capital Plan is being completed by Sapp Design Architects and Helix Architecture + Design, with JE Dunn assuming responsibility for construction contractor management.
     Also under construction, the new central office building for Grain Valley Schools is on schedule for a March 2023 opening. The new building is being constructed just south of the district's Dr. Amanda Allen, Deputy Superintendent, School and Community Services, reports the roof should be completed by the end of October, and exterior walls (brick and stone) are scheduled to be completed by the end of November.

Dirt began being moved this week at the site of a future fire station at the corner of Dillingham and Duncan roads in Grain Valley. Photo credit: Grain Valley News staff