ECC breaks ground on training center for police, firefighters

Elgin Community College broke ground this week on a new Public Safety Training Center in Burlington.

The $18 million center will be situated on roughly 120 acres along Plank Road just east of Main Street.

Crews will prepare the site this year, but the bulk of the construction will be done next year. The center is scheduled to open in spring 2016.

The facility will house a burn tower, classrooms and training programs for firefighters and police. The site has two ponds that will serve as a water source for firefighters and will be used for search and rescue exercises.

"Local fire departments and local police departments can come and use the facilities to train," ECC spokesman Jeff Julian said.

More than 80 percent of firefighters and other first responders are credentialed by community colleges, according to the American Association of Community Colleges.

"Our Public Safety Training Center will be the epicenter for training and preparing our district's first responders," said Donna Redmer, chairwoman of the ECC board. "I want to thank the village of Burlington, President (Bob) Walsh, and the trustees for their support of this important investment in their community and our district."

The Public Safety Center also was supposed to house the college's sustainability programs. But those courses will continue to be held at the college's Spartan Drive campus in Elgin due to budget constraints, officials said.

"Rather than do both programs well there, we're going to use our resources to make sure the Public Safety Center performs to our highest standards," said Sharon Konny, vice president of business and finance.

For more information about the Public Safety Training Center and other master plan projects, visit elgin.edu/masterplan.