Idaho USDA Rural Development Director Rudy Soto, team discuss new Fort Hall Fire Station with FHBC
Fort Hall Business Council, Fort Hall Fire & EMS Chief Eric King and Idaho USDA Rural Development Director Rudy Soto and team meet on Friday, November 4.
By JAMES HILL
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Idaho State Rural Development State Director Rudy Soto, Shoshone-Bannock, along with other members of the USDA, visited Fort Hall November 4 to meet with the Fort Hall Business Council concerning the new Fort Hall Fire Station.
The new fire station is funded through the Communities Facilities program. Congressman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) secured the Congressional earmark for the funds and flows through the federal agency.
New Fort Hall Fire & EMS Station building design.
Dale Lish, USDA Rural Development area director, said the total funds are $7 million for the project. Architect JHS Architects is designing it based on that budget. They are hoping within the next few months it will go out to bid. The estimated construction period is 18 months.
The construction of a new fire department is currently in the early planning stage.
Fort Hall Fire & EMS Chief Eric King gave the USDA team a tour of the current fire department and explained the importance of building a new facility.
Idaho USDA Rural Development Director Rudy Soto speaks with Fort Hall Fire & EMS Chief
Eric King.
He said Fort Hall Fire & EMS is an essential part of the community being first responders, they help answer fire and medical calls on the reservation.
The current facility is outdated and small, building a new station would help the first responders have a faster response time.
