The Lemont Fire Protection District is looking for voter approval to promote $46 million in bonds to relocate two of its 4 hearth stations and renovate two of them, with the objective of lowering emergency response occasions.
The referendum is a response to inhabitants development inside the district, in addition to inhabitants displacement that has sped up response occasions, district Fire Chief Dan Tasso stated.
The district covers 26 sq. miles and responds to calls in Lemont, Lemont Township and parts of Darien, Palos Park and Woodridge. The district’s boundaries additionally lengthen into three counties: Cook, DuPage and Will.
For the proprietor of a Cook County house value $400,000, the bond subject would imply an additional $185 in property taxes, in accordance with the district. For the proprietor of a house with the identical worth in DuPage or Will, the extra tax value can be $209 a 12 months, in accordance with the district.
“We perceive that this can be a large request” from voters, Tasso stated.
He stated the district has acquired suggestions from residents and answered questions on whether or not enhancements are wanted.
Tasso stated he was inspired by the response.
“For probably the most half I’m actually enthusiastic about this,” he stated. “I’m assured.”
The district says it usually takes firefighters and paramedics eight minutes or extra to answer calls, with the objective being six minutes or much less.
This can be completed by transferring two stations however renovating all 4 district stations, together with lodging at every for each female and male firefighters, including gear cupboard space and updating health areas.
The district has 54 sworn personnel and 14 firefighters/paramedics are on obligation every day, Tasso stated.
He stated proceeds from the bond sale will likely be used just for building and never for including employees.
Tasso stated 85% of the district’s price range comes from property taxes, and the district receives no affect charges from new houses.
The district says on its web site that about 700 houses are anticipated to be constructed inside the district’s boundaries over the subsequent three years.
The district stated that since 1990, Lemont’s inhabitants has grown by greater than 200 %
“There are subdivisions popping up all over the place,” Tasso stated.
Recent developments in Lemont embrace Copper Ridge and Equestrian Meadows, and Tasso stated at the least 400 houses are deliberate as a part of a redevelopment of the previous Gleneagles Country Club. That’s the place Pulte Homes is constructing duplexes and two-story houses.
Since the district’s price range relies upon closely on property tax income, the developments improve the overall worth of properties inside the district, which in the end helps, Tasso stated.
The chief stated the district has seen a inhabitants shift to the south and southwest areas of Lemont.
In supporting a sure vote on the bond sale, the district stated that except two stations are moved, response occasions will improve.
Station 1 is now positioned at 15900 New Ave., in Lemont, and will likely be moved to 15783 W. 127th St., Lemont. If voters approve the bond sale, the present station website can be bought.
Station 3 is positioned at 10801 S. Marmon Drive, Woodridge, and will likely be moved to 1051 Internationale Parkway in Lemont, in accordance with the district.
Selling that property is way more difficult as a result of the firehouse is on donated land and the agreements state that, whether it is bought, the brand new use should even be a firehouse or different public security use, the official.
The district stated if the bond sale was authorised, it might look to promote the property, however in any other case it could possibly be transformed into an schooling heart.
The proposed new location for Station 3 requires a one-story constructing that the district might intestine and renovate to be used as a hearth station, in addition to add engine rooms. The district stated the conversion would value about $10 million lower than ranging from scratch.
Station 2 is at 12940 S. Bell Road, which Tasso stated is closest to the Gleneagles growth, and Station 4 is at 11520 S. Walker Road.
The properties for the proposed hearth stations have been bought by the district a number of years in the past, realizing that land prices would solely improve.
“It was a matter of discovering land that was accessible and on the proper worth,” Tasso stated. “We did it to dam it.”
Officials stated in inhabitants and response time research they see no rapid want for a fifth hearth station.
mnolan@southtownstar.com
