Groundbreaking for new fire station could be in May

By Terry Murry on Monday, April 11th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories

WESTON – East Umatilla Fire & Rescue Chief Dave Baty says that while there’s nothing to see, the new fire station in Weston is moving forward full steam ahead. The Wenaha Group is consulting on the project, and Baty said they meet every week.

“If you’re looking from the outside in, you really don’t see very much happening,” he said. “Since this is public money that we are so thankful that we were afforded, we have to be careful and make sure that we’re going through all the different hoops that are required.”

While the EUFR board of directors has not yet hired a general contractor, Baty said it will happen soon and they expect to have a groundbreaking ceremony early in May.

“We’re going to look at Senator Hansell’s schedule and Representative Levy’s and then Commissioner Shafer’s,” he said. “We’re going to make sure that it fits them.”

Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena), Rep. Bobby Levy (R-Echo), and Umatilla County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Shafer were big supporters of the state funding. Baty said that the date will also have to work with the members of the board of directors.

“As far as the rest of us, the firefighters, we’ll get there if we can,” Baty said. “We’re going to make a fun, fun day out of it.”