Hampshire ready to host ECC's new public safety training center

Pingree Grove has pulled itself out of consideration to be the future home of Elgin Community College's new regional public safety training center, while neighboring Hampshire wants in.

The college, which is requesting proposals for the $15 million center, sent notices to the 33 communities it serves.

The facility would offer training for local firefighters and police officers, feature an indoor shooting range and a burn tower as well as house classrooms and the school's truck driving program.

The building is part of the school's $178 million facilities master plan that also involves constructing a health careers center, a library and learning center, a multipurpose classroom facility, investing in the school's campus safety, security and traffic infrastructure, general maintenance and renovating the student resource center.

The funds come courtesy of a tax increase voters endorsed in 2009.

Officials estimate the projects will result in 4,000 new jobs and pump more than $530 million into the local economy.

Pingree Grove leaders had been interested in ECC building the training center on what's known as the Harrison property, 60 acres near the Pingree Grove Forest Preserve on Route 20 by Route 47.

A study ruled the property out as a good place for commercial development; it graded its use for light industrial as average.

Pingree Grove Village President Wyman "Clint" Carey still saw the project as a tremendous opportunity to attract other businesses to Pingree Grove.

"It's not often that you have a chance to bring a college to your town," Carey said.

But some Pingree Grove trustees balked last week at the notion of the facility having a gun range and that the building would be open 24 hours a day.

"I say let it die," Trustee Steve Wiedmeyer said. "It's an extremely bad decision (to continue)."

Trustee Greg Marston called the project "a waste of time" and "insanity."

Moreover, trustees Stephanie Mette and Larry Gillie weren't interested in cobbling a proposal together at the last minute.

"I don't think it's worth wasting our resources," Mette said.

To date, ECC has not received documents from any of the 33 communities it solicited.

"Municipalities still have until Aug. 2 to submit a proposal, so there is still time to gain, so to speak," said Kristophere Owens, an ECC spokesman.

Hampshire plans to submit its proposal either Friday or on the day it's due, said Village President Jeff Magnussen, adding that the village has identified 80 acres near Route 20 and Route 72 that would be ideal for the facility.

Getting in on the ECC partnership was a no brainer for Hampshire.

"Hampshire tries to take care of its own business and we're putting our best foot forward," Magnussen said. "It's certainly good for your community to have a campus setting like this that draws firefighters and policemen from across the region and that they stay in Hampshire for a period of time."