Next week, excavation begins at the construction site for Jordan's fire hall renovation and expansion project. It is expected to take 18 months to complete.

A delegation of people involved in the project gathered at the on the site this morning for a groundbreaking ceremony. Mayor Ron Jabs gave an impromptu speech to the helmet-donning, shovel-wielding group, which included Finance Director Tom Nikunen, City Administrator Ed Shukle, City Engineer Carol Caron, Councilmember Jeanne Marnoff, JEA Architects president Jack Anderson, project manager Gopher State Contractors project manager and vice president Jayson J. Revoir, Councilmember Mike Shaw, Fire Chief Steve Kochlin, Councilmember Sally Schultz, and fire department building committee chairman Mike Briese.

Here's a video of the event and the mayor's speech: