JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Residents in the Jamestown Rural Fire District are being asked to vote today on a proposed tax levy to fund construction of a new $2.8 million station.

JRFD Treasurer/Secretary Travis Lemieux says the vote will determine whether or not a five mill property tax levy to fund the construction will move forward.

The Jamestown Rural Fire Department consists of 28 volunteers that serve rural Jamestown and the 22 surrounding townships. The JRFD has been in their current location at 205 3rd Avenue Northwest since 1964, with several additions built on.

Lemieux says the growing department is in need of a new fire hall. A special vote today from 11 AM to 7 PM at the current fire hall will decide if the project moves forward.

If approved, the rural fire district would apply for a 30-year loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The five mills would cover the loan payment for the first year.

Ahead of the vote, Lemieux says they’ve had a generally positive response to the proposal.

The Jamestown Rural Fire Department has purchased a building at 1209 9th Street Southeast from Century Link to keep all of their vehicles and equipment in one location. They will be adding an addition to the building and updating it to meet their needs.

Eligible voters live in the City of Spiritwood Lake, plus residents rural the fire district including those in the townships of Ashland,Bloom, Buchanan, Corwin, Deer Lake, Eldridge, Fried, Hidden, Homer, Lenton, Lippert, Midway, Plainview, Sydney, Winfield, Woodbury, and Ypsilanti.

Jamestown City residents are not eligible to vote. Click here for more on the project.