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The lead statement in their fact pamphlet defines the primary public
safety consideration for their decision: "The new facility will
provide a more rapid response for the fire district by placing all
the equipment in a single, 24-hour staffed location."
Economically, the rent at the current firehouse site has gone up
significantly. The former property owner passed away and the current
owners are bringing the rent current to the times and business
location.
The current property is also limited by space. Fire vehicles and
equipment must be stored at other locations. Additional rent is paid
out to do that.
The fire department contracts for third and fourth call out with
the Logan County Paramedic Association. The fire department's EMTs
must be picked up for those calls.
Several years ago the paramedics bought property and built on
Postville Drive. With an eye on current and future needs of the fire
protection district, as well as the practical position near the
paramedics, the trustees bought the property next to them. The site
is across from McDonald's on the other side of Lincoln Parkway.
The $1.3 million is needed to build the new structure.
The trustees attempted to get a referendum passed last spring. It
failed by less than 0.5 percent, seven votes, on a blizzardlike day.
Factors in the decision-making process:
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The department has
outgrown its current location. The department rents additional
facilities at four locations to house vehicles that need to be
kept warm in the winter.
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It takes time to
drive to those locations to get the equipment, adding about five
minutes to a call.
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Rent at the
firehouse continues to increase.
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To build and to
rent additional area around the facility would prove more
costly.
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Increasing traffic
on Woodlawn Road also cuts into response time.
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Increasing traffic
on Woodlawn Road holds potential for accidents while rigs are
backed into bays on return from calls. There have been near
misses.
New location and firehouse benefits
- All fire equipment would be available in one location.
(Except for a truck that will be kept at Broadwell to afford
quick response by volunteers serving that area.)
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Location next to
paramedic building allows immediate EMT pickup and improves
third-call ambulance response time.
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Street exits
directly onto Lincoln Parkway, avoids Woodlawn Road traffic,
saving time.
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The new site's
parking design allows excellent traffic flow going out and safe
off-street return to bays.
The trustees went out for bids and received four. Only one bid
met specs, and the design from LZT Associates of Peoria was chosen.
The company has extensive experience building fire stations and
similar public service buildings in Illinois. Former Lincolnite
David J. Henebry, who has extensive environmental and energy
training, headed the design project.
The biggest advantage to the new firehouse is the seven new bays
that would house all the fire equipment.
It has a seven-bed dorm for males and a separated two-bed dorm
for females.
A kitchen, dining, day room and small workout area would finish
out the living area for on-duty firefighters.
People operating the backup 911 center that is located at the
firehouse would have a little more elbowroom than in the current
closet-sized room where it is now.
It would have a 30-35-person meeting room for training.
The living and office area would comprise 6,715 square feet. The
garages would be 4,536 square feet.
The facility would use three zoned furnaces. Radiant heat would
be used in the garages.
A concrete driveway would surround the facility. A gravel lot
would be available for general parking.
The company includes living quarters equipment that could be less
costly purchased through them, with specialized furnishings such as
lockers. Some of those options will still be evaluated.
The trustees scrutinized the design, looking for possible cost
reductions, using caution not to compromise long-lasting quality of
the building that is estimated to last for 75 years.
The bond issue request is on the Nov. 7 election ballot for $1.3
million.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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