Construction on the new headquarters for the Wright City Fire Protection District is expected to begin later this month or in early October.

Wright City aldermen voted 3-0 to approve the site plan for the new facility at their last meeting Aug. 28. Alderman Kim Arbuthnot and Mayor Michelle Heiliger stepped away from the dais during the discussion. Arbuthnot is employed by the fire district, while Heiliger is the president of the fire district’s board of directors.

As part of the site plan approval, aldermen required additional right-of-way from the fire district for the widening of Bell Road in the future.

The new 19,000-square-foot headquarters will be located just north of American Bank on the east side of Bell Road. It will feature four apparatus bays, administrative offices and crew quarters. The facility will replace the district’s current Station 1 on Second Street, which no longer meets the needs of the growing district.

Fire Chief Ron MacKnight said construction is expected to last just over a year.

“It will all depend on the supply chain and all that comes with construction,” he said.

Construction costs are estimated at $6.7 million, part of the $11 million bond issue approved by voters in November 2024.

The fire district has experienced steady growth in both population and call volume in recent years. District leaders say a modern headquarters is critical to keeping pace with demand, providing better response times, and improving resources for firefighters.

The chief emphasized the district’s commitment to using the bond funds wisely.

“We’re extremely appreciative of the public’s support,” MacKnight said. “We hope to fill the community’s needs for years to come.”