STRUTHERS, Ohio - Nearly three years after Struthers taxpayers voted yes for a $2 million-dollar bond levy to build a brand-new fire station, construction is now underway to replace the current station built in 1939.

The city said the project was delayed once the pandemic hit, and they did select an architect in 2020, but prices continued going up.

"Our budget was $2 million dollars from the levy and I believe when everything came in and we were about 350-thousand dollars over budget," Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller said. 

Construction crews have started digging and laying down the groundwork, and although Cercone Miller said the delay to start work came at a cost, they are on target to finish this fall.

In order to continue work, the city had to allocate an extra $350,000 taken out of their general fund and American Rescue Plan fund.

She said the wait and extra resources are worth the investment for the community.

"The other one is very old," she said, "So we're happy to be able to give our department what they need and our city what they need cause we need to take care of the guys that are protecting us."

The city is awaiting an inspection of the building's foundation in the coming days. 

She said they began construction in April, but paused because of the cold weather and then continued work about a month ago. 

The new fire station is set to be up and running this November.