Citing the rapid growth of a service area that includes parts of the village, unincorporated land and neighboring Mokena, Fire Protection District Chief James Grady outlined plans for a 3,883-square-foot addition to Fire Station No. 1 at 333 W. Nebraska St.
The addition is basically an administrative area, housing office space and a training room, Grady told the Frankfort Village Board. It also includes 26 additional parking spaces.
“We’re getting bigger and busier,” Grady said, noting that the district covers 50 square miles and a population of 50,000 people. His department answered 4,000 calls last year, he said.
The chief said he expects to add 12 employees to the 36 already on staff.
A state grant will provide $900,000 for staffing over the next five years, he said.
Grady predicted future growth would create a need for three more fire stations in outlying areas to the east, west and south, in addition to the existing three in the village.