'A beautiful ceremony' to break ground for new South Elgin fire stations
A year after voters endorsed the plan, the South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District held a groundbreaking ceremony to build two new stations, one to replace the current headquarters.
The ceremony took place Monday morning at the site of the future station at 498 South Elgin Blvd. The other station will be built at 1090 Spring St.
Fire Chief Steve Wascher said he was pleased with how many people showed up for the event, including village board members, staff members, Kane County Board member Mike Kenyon of South Elgin, and more than a dozen residents.
"It was a beautiful day for a beautiful ceremony," Wascher said.
Groundwork is expected to start within the next couple of weeks at the Spring Street location, followed shortly after by the South Elgin Boulevard location, he said. Both stations are expected to be done in about a year, he said.
The district plans to sell the station at 150 W. State St., likely to the village. South Elgin Director of Administrative Services Megan Golden said the village will develop a plan for the entire northwest quadrant of the village center, where the fire station is located.
The 24-square-mile district also has a fire station at 2055 McDonald Road. The new locations will improve response times and provide equal coverage throughout the district, fire officials said.
In March 2018, voters approved borrowing $10 million to build the stations and increase the fire district property tax levy to pay for staffing and equipment. The district will contribute $1 million in reserves, Wascher said.