Palatine approves preliminary fire station plan

About six weeks after Palatine officials OK'd the schematic for a new police station, councilmen gave their stamp of approval to preliminary designs for a new fire station.

Monday's vote cleared the way to proceed with a final design for the $3 million, 8,485-square-foot station at Quentin Road and Echo Lane. that should help improve emergency response times to the northwest part of the village.

"It's not an over-the-top design," Village Manager Reid Ottesen said. "It's an economical design that we have."

Taking into account concerns raised at a neighborhood meeting led by Ottesen and Fire Chief Bob Falardeau, an eight-foot wall will be built at the back of the property to serve as a barrier. The station also will be built closer to street than originally planned, providing even more of a buffer.

Community groups will have nighttime access to a training room that can accommodate up to 20 people.

Emergency vehicles will exit the station onto Quentin Road, and return using the Echo Lane access. The station will accommodate up to six personnel.

The Palatine council also agreed to hire Northbrook-based W.B. Olson Inc. to provide construction management services; it is the same company that served as general contractor for Palatine's Hicks Road fire station. All subcontracts will be competitively bid with a minimum of three bids each.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring, with a completion date in early 2011.