Work on new Rolling Meadows fire stations could start next year

Rolling Meadows is moving forward with a plan to build two new fire stations, but officials say construction is not likely to begin until 2017.

The city staff this month recommended the hiring of R.C. Wegman Construction Co. as the project manager for what could be a more than two-year process.

Fire Chief Scott Franzgrote said the Aurora-based company's bid and interview were the most impressive of the seven companies that applied.

"Their commitment and experience in supporting the project from conception to completion really impressed the group," Franzgrote said.

Rolling Meadows is planning to build two new fire stations "to better meet the service demand and community risk profile of our city," Franzgrote said. The project is expected to cost the city about $9 million.

The new stations would replace Fire Station 15 at 3111 Meadow Drive, which was built in 1958, and Fire Station 16 at 2455 S. Plum Grove Road, built in 1980.

R.C. Wegman has been in business for 61 years and built 15 fire stations in six different communities, senior consultant Terry Bohr said. The company is focused on safety, quality and hiring local contractors, he said. R.C. Wegman would work with Naperville-based Healy Bender Associates on the architecture and design of the stations, Bohr said. The two companies recently worked together on three other fire station projects.

"We're thrilled and excited about this project, we're ready to go," Bohr said. "We're anxious to bring our qualities to the city of Rolling Meadows and look forward to doing a fantastic job."

The city's plan is to build both fire stations at the same time. Building just one and waiting to build the other could create more problems with response times, officials say.

Alderman Len Prejna said he wants the city retire other debt before selling bonds to pay for the fire stations, which likely will be the city's largest bond issue in decades.

"If we are going forward with this, I would not support it until our bonds are paid down," Prejna said.

Officials said there are still several steps - such as deciding where to build the stations, acquiring the land and settling on a design - before construction begins, in 2017 under a best-case scenario.

City Manager Barry Krumstok said the timeline for the project is likely 24 to 26 months. The next step will be for the city council to approve a contract with R.C. Wegman, then hold discussions on where to locate the two stations.