Price tag for Carpentersville fire station rehab goes down

It will take a little less cash to renovate and expand Carpentersville's Fire Station No. 2 on the village's east side - about $33,000 less.

The village board Tuesday approved changes to several insurance contracts associated with the $2.2 million project, resulting in a savings of almost $26,000.

In addition, the village will use plastic plumbing instead of cast iron materials, which will net the village an extra $8,300.

Trustee Keith Hinz said the savings are important to note because cash reserves from the village's general fund will finance the project.

The savings are the result of a reduction in the amount of insurance required by the village's insurance company.

Initially, a $10 million umbrella policy was required from each of the 18 contractors. But upon review, a $5 million policy was deemed sufficient.

More than half of the contractors provided reductions associated with the change, while seven said they carry a $10 million policy as part of their regular activities, Village Manager Craig Anderson said in a memo to the board.

A 2,100-square-foot addition will be built onto the facility at 305 Lake Marian Road, which was built in 1959. It has never been renovated.

The renovation and expansion will include a workout room, additional bathrooms and meeting space for staff. The building has shifted, triggering a large crack to form along the wall and floor of the building.

Those cracks likely were caused 15 years ago when the fire protection district removed fuel tanks stored underground and failed to adequately backfill the land.

Also built in 1959, Fire Station No. 1 at 213 Spring St. in the Old Town neighborhood underwent remodeling in 2000. The village's third station at 5000 Sleepy Hollow Road was built on the west side in 2001.