Hills

The city of Hills is looking to build a new fire station and provide more space for its city offices.

The fire station is more than 50 years old, and the city offices are around the same age. During an information session Wednesday, Oct. 14, city officials pointed out that Hills has not built a public office building in more than 50 years.

Officials emphasized the need for new facilities as the existing buildings age and become more expensive to repair. Discussions about addressing those needs began well before this year.

Bond

In July, the city council approved placing a bond referendum for the proposed fire station and city offices on the November ballot. After reviewing the costs, the council approved bond language seeking $5.1 million.

The bond requires at least 60% voter approval to pass.

City office

The city offices need upgrades and additional space. Although the offices were expanded about 15 years ago, the building remains cramped.

Mayor Tim Kemp described the repairs needed, including leaks that have left stains on the carpet.

“You can see where the carpet stains. The water leaks through.”

City Administrator Adriane Sedlacek also explained by email how new offices would improve working conditions and service to residents.

“A new office would improve ventilation for the employees, provide privacy for confidential conversations and meetings, provide a more functional space and create a more welcoming environment for serving residents.”

Kemp also discussed the need for additional document storage and a private space for conversations.

“There’s no place to have a private conversation with anybody. A new business wanted to come to town. Oh, they got to talk in front of anybody that walks in.”

During a tour of the offices, Kemp showed how the city’s IT equipment is stored behind a curtain in the bathroom.

“Here’s our IT. Shoved back behind a curtain.”

The city has three employees: Sedlacek, Tamara Frembgen Kesner, known as Tam, and Matt Pantel, who serves as public works director and volunteer fire chief.

If the bond passes and the new facility is built, each employee would have more room to work.

Fire station

The fire station also faces space limitations. Kemp said the building cannot accommodate all of the department’s vehicles.

“We’ve got eight vehicles that we store. We don’t have room for those here.”

Sedlacek explained how the current arrangement also affects employees in the neighboring city offices.

“Our current office has fumes when the fire truck that is stored next door goes out on a call, no private space for meetings or conversations, and very limited storage. These issues make it harder to work comfortably and serve residents.”

During the information session, Frembgen Kesner said some people had described the firefighters to her as “just volunteers.” She emphasized the importance of volunteer first responders and how much communities across the country depend on them.

"Iowa relies on volunteers. The whole nation relies on volunteers.” She continued, “So don’t say they’re just volunteers.”

Upgrading the existing building

Although some residents may believe the city first considered a new or upgraded facility this year, discussions began in 2020.

The city initially explored renovating and expanding the existing fire station. In 2022, Shive Hattery estimated that work would cost $5.4 million.

That price led the city to explore other options.

Presentation

Residents filled many of the seats at the fire station during the information session.

Architect Al Buck of Solum Wang, the firm working on the proposed project, explained the plans and showed images of what the new facility would look like.

If the bond passes, the current plan is to break ground next summer and complete construction by late summer 2028.

Residents asked questions about decontamination requirements, the cost of expanding the existing facility, the city’s debt and bonding capacity, roofing, showers and equipment washing.

City officials and project representatives addressed those questions, including why renovating and expanding the current building had been estimated at $5.4 million.

One resident questioned why upgrading the existing building, including adding two bays on the south end and installing showers, would cost more than a new facility.

Kemp explained that the existing building was not designed to accommodate future needs. He said the 2022 estimate led the city to conclude that investing in extensive upgrades to the aging facility would not make sense.

He also discussed the difficulty of adding features to the cramped site.

“I think it would be difficult to make drive-through bays into this, because now you're tearing out the park and you're coming through residential neighborhoods, pulling through where all the carcinogens and that kind of stuff is now going to be kind of away from residential areas. So anything that does get out is going to be more combined in one area.”

Buck said the proposed site would provide room behind the new building for a future addition.

He also addressed the changes that would be needed to improve contamination control at the existing station.

“You’d probably almost want to turn all this into the personnel space, and then have your transition zone, and then add another four bays on to make up for it all.”

Raising taxes

One of the major questions surrounding the bond is how it would affect property taxes.

During the session, officials estimated that a home valued at $220,000 could see an annual tax increase of about $147.60, or $12.30 per month, if the bond passes.

They also presented a worst-case estimate of about $261 per year.

Kemp said the impact would depend on the individual property.

“It’s based on your house.”

The land

The former Hills elementary school was demolished in the winter of 2025, and the property returned to the Iowa City school district.

The city began discussing acquiring the land in March. The council approved purchasing the property for $450,000 using local option sales tax funds.

After acquiring the land in May, discussions intensified about using the former school site for a new fire station and city offices.

The proposed facility would replace the aging buildings and provide additional space.

Future

Another question raised during the session was what would happen to the current fire station if the bond passes and the new facility is completed.

 The city has not made a decision. Kemp suggested possibilities such as converting it into a wellness center or day care, selling it, or demolishing it to make room for something else.

“What are we going to do with this building if that goes through? That’s a darn good question. What do people want to do with it? Can we convert it into something, or is it so old we can’t really use it? Do we tear it down and put something else up?”

Decisions about the existing building’s future would come after the November vote.