RAPID CITY, S.D.(KOTA)- At Monday night’s Rapid City Council Meeting, $15 million in surplus, undesignated funds was made available for the Rapid City Fire Department to refurbish Station One in Downtown Rapid City.

Tessa Jaeger, public information officer for the RCFD, said she is pleased the city council viewed the issue with the same urgency as the fire department.

The cramped building will expand to 40,000 square feet, plenty of room for both the firefighting necessities, and comforts.

An expansion Jaeger argues is worth the investment.

Jaeger said the comfort of the firefighters, many of whom work 48 consecutive hours at a time, cannot be overlooked.

The motion was approved on a 7-2 vote. Council members Bill Evans and John Roberts served as the no votes, with Evans in particular taking issue with the funding mechanism