Steger Mayor Ken Peterson says the village’s administrative employees and police should finally have permanent working quarters by 2017.
Peterson announced Saturday an April 2017 groundbreaking for either a $6.7 million renovation and upgrade of the current municipal building or construction of a new $7.2 million facility two blocks away.
Peterson, speaking to residents during a town hall meeting at the Louis Sherman Community Center, said it was the first time he publicly presented the firm construction costs.
“Either option,” he promised, “I’m not raising taxes.”
Steger administrative employees and police have been working out of temporary quarters at village fire stations since a June 30, 2014 fire gutted the municipal building at Steger Road and Emerald Avenue.
Village officials originally expected to be back inside the municipal building within a year, but altered their expectations after learning the extent of damage to the decades-old facility meant it must be brought up to meet current state and federal standards.
Peterson, who views the municipal building project as an opportunity to revitalize his village, wants to instead build a new facility on a vacant piece of property along 33rd Street, one block east of Chicago Road.
The 3.4-acre Steger Elementary School District site, he said, would provide superior public access and parking. It also would support “a downtown area” by attracting persons who would also patronize retail and food establishments, he said.
Steger Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman Frank Elton agreed it would help.
“I’ve been in business in Steger 31 years,” said Elton, who owns Bambino’s restaurant. “It’s a dying town. If you want to revitalize it, you have to build something new. You’ve got the opportunity to bring in new business. Get it done now.”
But several residents voiced concerns after Peterson acknowledged land acquisition costs could reach $800,000 for the acreage. Former Trustee Bob Joyce said it makes more sense to keep village functions at the current site. “You already own the land,” he said.
A second woman agreed, adding, “There’s nothing wrong with what we have. Just fix the (current) damn building.”
Responding to a question from Joyce, Peterson estimated it would cost $40,000 a month “at the top end” to pay off either municipal building project.
That prompted another resident to question whether money used for the project would come from funds for other village necessities. “We don’t want to be blindsided a year or so later,” she said.
Peterson downplayed the $500,000 difference between the two building choices as “not that big a difference,” adding, “I have this cost regardless; I have no choice.”
Peterson, an attorney with extensive finance and bond experience, said he and Trustee Ryan Buxton, an IT auditor at JPMorgan Chase & Co., are “trying to determine” the best bank financing in 10-year and 20-year periods. Village officials also have been considering leasing the building from a California company, according to October 2015 Village Board meeting minutes.
Also addressed during the town hall meeting was Minneapolis-based BKV Group’s proposed building design. Modest by north suburban — or even Orland Park and New Lenox — standards, it includes a facade incorporating brickwork, pieces commemorating village history and other design elements.
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Architect Bruce Schwartzman, a BKV partner based in Chicago, told residents the design was intended to be “partly an identity for you,” and includes “planning for the long-term.”
But one cost-conscious resident opposed deviating from the village standards of the past 25 years.
“It looks like something that should be in Naperville, the woman said. “This is Steger. We have to be realistic.”
Ironically, her comment came several minutes after Peterson invited the four dozen residents at the meeting to raise their hands if they wanted Steger “to stay the way it is.”
No one raised their hand.
Dennis Sullivan is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.