A little afternoon rain didn't stop Johnston residents, city staff and members of the Johnston Police and Fire Departments from celebrating Monday afternoon.

The city hosted the official groundbreaking of the new public safety building already under construction along Merle Hay Road and Northwest 63rd Street.

The ceremony was moved inside the Johnston Lions Club building after afternoon rain.

"This is a really special day in our community," said mayor Paula Dierenfeld, said to a room of about 60 guests. "The amount of people here reinforces that."

The public safety building, which will house both the Johnston Police Department and Johnston Fire Department, became a reality last August when Johnston residents voted overwhelmingly to approve a $14 million bond issue to construct the building and a second fire station on the west side of town.

Dierenfeld thanked those who participated in a Citizens Group for several months leading up to last August's vote.

"They did extraordinary work," she said. "We owe so much to these folks."

While earlier rain prevented the ceremonial turning of the dirt, it didn't stop Diernefeld, city staff, residents and other guests from donning hard hats and shovels.

No mud balls were thrown but guests posed in front of the construction site for photos.

Guests were also invited to enjoy refreshments and cookies after the event.

Construction on the facility is expected to take about a year. Construction on the second fire station, at the intersection of Northwest 62nd Avenue and Northwest 103rd Street, is expected to be completed next spring.