A family of three standing in front of a red fire truck, smiling at the camera. The woman is wearing a white t-shirt and denim shorts, holding a water bottle. The man is wearing sunglasses, a cap, and a navy t-shirt, holding a young boy dressed in a blue shirt and shorts.

Our process

A step-by-step approach to strengthen public safety and fire services in Vadnais Heights.

For more than three years, the City Council, fire department leaders, city staff and technical experts have carefully studied how to address the serious challenges at the South Fire Station.

  • City leaders began asking a hard question: does the South Fire Station still work for how the department actually operates today? To find out, the city brought in external experts, BKV Group, to study the building firsthand. This work included walkthroughs, building condition reviews and early cost estimates for both fixing up the current station and building a new one.

    Key finding: The station is undersized by nearly 17,000 square feet and missing basic modern safety features.

  • With the scope of the problem clear, the city turned to the harder question: renovate or replace? City Council brought on Terra Construction to help answer that question by estimating the costs of renovating vs. building new. City leaders also toured newly built stations in neighboring communities to see modern design standards up close.

    Key finding: Renovation of the South Fire Station would cost within $3-6 million of building a new modern station without addressing all of its issues — making renovation a short-term fix.

  • With a full picture of the options, City Council approved next steps to begin designing a new fire station just south of the current site. This would allow the department keep running out of the existing building throughout construction.

    Key decision: In May 2026, City Council gave preliminary approval to move forward with a new fire station.

  • After hearing questions and concerns across the community, the Council made a deliberate choice to pause its plans and restart the conversation, allowing time for residents to learn about the current fire station’s deficiencies and the city’s proposed plan to address them.

    Key decision: The project paused, giving residents a chance to get the facts and weigh in first.

What comes next?

The city is focused on re-engaging residents, answering questions and walking through the options, including how to pay for a new fire station and reduce the impact on taxpayers.