Nearly 1 decade after initial study, Golden Valley still debating location of new fire station

New Golden Valley fire station pushback

The possible site of a new fire station in Golden Valley is receiving more pushback.

This week, the majority of the City Council voted on a resolution to move forward with a location that is currently home to a longtime auto repair shop.

You have to go back all the way to 2016. That’s when a study found the city of Golden Valley needed to go from three fire stations to two, allowing for a new facility with 24/7 coverage and faster response times.

“I spent hours in meetings and everything with the idea that this would end up being built by now,” said Joanie Clausen, former Golden Valley councilmember.

This week, the City Council approved a resolution picking the property off Highway 100 and Duluth Street as the location for the new east fire station.

RELATED: Golden Valley picks location for new fire station, will use eminent domain ‘if necessary’

“Because this process to find a fire station has taken so long, I feel like we have not upheld as well as we could have our commitment to our firefighters who are putting their lives on the line,” said Sophia Ginis, Golden Valley councilmember.

That means the current property owners, Feist Automotive, would be forced out. The city is even considering using eminent domain.

“After 54 years, why do you treat me like this?” asked Bill Feist, the owner. 

“For me, this is not the way to do it,” said Roslyn Harmon, Golden Valley mayor.

Harmon is all for supporting the fire staff, but says she thinks they need to find another way.

“I’m really trying hard to figure out an interim until this station gets built because it’s already been eight or nine years,” Harmon said.

From 2023 to 2025, the city explored numerous sites, including residential properties, but ultimately landed on this property along Lilac Drive North.

“I am against this, I am against taking someone’s property,” Clausen said.

Clausen is running for City Council again this year, and so is Andy Johnson. He, too, disagrees with pushing this business out and questions how many resources the city has dedicated to this project, adding, “We aren’t really being transparent with people on where the money is going.”

While no agreement between the city and the property owner has been finalized, the clock is ticking on a $3.1 million bond, money they could lose if it’s not spent toward the project by the end of the year.
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