The Lemont Fire Protection District is seeking voter approval to sell $46 million in bonds to relocate two of its four fire stations and renovate two of them to improve emergency response times. .
District Fire Chief Dan Tasso said the referendum was a response to the district’s population growth, as well as changes in population that have shortened response times.
The district covers 26 square miles and answers calls in Lemont, Lemont Township, Darien, Palos Park, and parts of Woodridge. The school district’s boundaries span three counties: Cook, DuPage, and Will.
The bond issue will result in a $185 increase in property taxes for Cook County homeowners worth $400,000, according to the district. For homeowners of the same value in DuPage or Will, the additional tax cost would be $209 a year, according to the district.
“We understand this is a big demand” from voters, Tasso said.
He said the district received feedback from residents and answered questions about the need for improvements.
Tasso said he was encouraged by the response.
“For the most part, I’m really excited about this,” he said. “I look forward to it.”
The district says it often takes firefighters and paramedics more than eight minutes to respond to a call, and the goal is for firefighters and paramedics to respond to calls within six minutes.
This will be achieved by relocating two police stations and renovating all four district stations. This includes creating separate accommodations for both male and female firefighters, adding space to store equipment and updating the fitness area.
The district has 54 sworn employees and 14 firefighters and paramedics on duty each day, Tasso said.
The Lemont Fire Protection District is seeking voter approval in the general election to sell a $46 million bond to relocate and renovate its fire station. (Lemont Fire Protection District)
He said proceeds from the bond sale will be used only for construction and no additional personnel will be added.
Tasso said 85% of the district’s budget comes from property taxes and the district does not receive impact fees from new housing construction.
The district says on its website that about 700 homes will be built within the district boundaries over the next three years.
Since 1990, Lemont’s population has increased by more than 200%, according to the district.
“Subdivisions are popping up all over the place,” Tasso said.
The Lemont Fire Protection District responds to calls in Lemont, Lemont Township, Darien, Palos Park, and parts of Woodridge. (Lemont Fire Protection District)
Recent developments in Lemont include Copper Ridge and Equestrian Meadows, and Tasso said at least 400 homes are planned as part of the redevelopment of the former Gleneagles Country Club. He said there was. There, Pulte Homes is building ranch duplexes and two-story homes.
Since the district’s budget relies heavily on property tax revenue, the development will definitely increase the total value of real estate in the district, which ultimately helps, Tasso said.
The chief said the district is seeing a shift in population to areas south and southwest of Lemont.
In arguing for a yes vote on the bond sale, the district said response times would increase unless two of the stations were relocated.
Station 1 is currently located at 15900 New Ave. in Lemont and will be relocated to 15783 W. 127th St., Lemont. If voters approve the bond sale, the existing station site would be sold.
Station 3 is located at 10801 South Marmon Drive in Woodridge and will move to 1051 International Parkway in Lemont, the district said.
Officials said selling the property is even more difficult because the fire station sits on donated land and the code requires that if it is sold, the new use must also be a fire department or other public safety use. Ta.
The school district said it would consider selling the property if the bond sale is approved, but if not, it could be converted into a training center.
The one-story building proposed for the new location of Station 3 will be demolished and renovated by the district for use as a fire station, with the addition of an engine bay. The district said the conversion would cost about $10 million less than starting from scratch.
Station 2 is at 12940 S. Bell Road, which Tasso said is the closest station to the Gleneagles development, and Station 4 is at 11520 S. Walker Road.
The land for the proposed fire station was purchased by the district several years ago after realizing it would only increase land costs.
“It was a matter of finding land that was available and reasonably priced,” Tasso said. “We did it to contain it.”
Officials said a study of population and response times does not indicate an immediate need for a fifth fire station.
mnolan@southtownstar.com
