Clarendon Hills has hired a consultant to provide conceptual plans and construction costs for a new fire station that would be built at the site of the existing police department and public works sites.
If the plan moves forward, the existing fire station at 316 Park Ave. would move to the area where the police department, 448 Park Ave., and public works department, 452 Park Ave., are now located.
The Village Board on Monday Oct. 20 approved a contract with consultant FGM Architects in an amount not to exceed $13,400.
More Top Picks Best Self Propelled Lawn Mowers
“The plans will also include a master plan that will address what would be the ideal use of the entire site,” said Paul Dalen, acting village manager, who also is the village’s former police chief.
Dalen said he does not yet have a good idea about the costs and feasibility of moving the fire station until the study by FGM is completed in about six to eight weeks.
“Once the Village Board is presented with the various concepts and costs, it will be up to them to decide the next steps,” he said. “Then we can start looking at a timeframe for the project.”
Clarendon Hills began looking into the possibility of moving the fire station to a joint public safety, public works campus about a year and a half ago. The land on which the current fire department is located could then be available for development, former Village Manager Zach Creer said.
“The fire station was identified as a building that does not have enough space due to changes in the fire service since it was built, including having female firefighters and the additional duties such as hazmat response that are now expected of our firefighters and require specialty equipment,” he said.
Dalen said he believes having the police and fire departments on the same campus would help to facilitate training, such as CPR certification, rescue task force training, and more.
“It also would facilitate familiarization and relationships among staff,” he said.
Another advantage would be cost saving measures, such as sharing office staff or training facilities, Dalen said.
“I can see several advantages to the project,” he said. “First, the village would not have to acquire land, so there is a big cost savings there. Second, it would be built to today’s standards, thus improving accommodations for personnel and equipment. Also, locating the station near the police department would help facilitate training between departments.”
FGM’s study will provide the village information about how a new facility would fit and function, including the building, parking, and any water management as required.
The firm will produce a complete project budget with a note about future escalation factors for construction in future years.
FGM stated it would take into consideration current and future needs of the fire department and village, anticipating a 50-year building. Initial thoughts would be to utilize the far rear portion of the public works site. An alternative solution would be to review the public works site, regarding a master plan approach, and provide an ideal layout for public works and fire services on the current site.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.