Mundelein shelving plans for new fire station on east side of town
Mundelein officials are shelving plans to build a new fire station on the east side of town.
Village hall will let a 2018 land agreement with the University of St. Mary of the Lake expire later this month. That deal reserved property on the southeast side of the campus, just inside the main entrance on Route 176, for a potential future station.
After considerable study, officials have determined a third station isn't needed now, Village Administrator Eric Guenther said. Additionally, if a third station is to be built, it should be built on the west side of town because that's where the village is experiencing residential and commercial growth, Guenther said.
The land that had been eyed on the university campus is on Mundelein's east side.
Putting a new station near where new development is occurring "makes sense," Trustee Jenny Ross said. Ross hopes a real estate developer will donate land to the village for such a project, which was the case when the main station at 1000 N. Midlothian Road was built.
Both that main station and a smaller station at 1300 S. Lake St. are west of the Canadian National Railway tracks that divide much of the town.
Mundelein hasn't had a fire station east of the railroad tracks in decades, not since one operated on Hawley Street in a since-demolished building that also served as village hall for many years.
Officials long have discussed building a fire station east of the tracks to be closer to residents and businesses in that part of town. Putting a station east of the tracks also could eliminate train-related response delays to calls, officials have said.
Crews with the Libertyville Fire Department respond to calls on that side of the village if needed through of a mutual aid agreement between the two communities, Guenther said, and that arrangement will suffice.
"They can handle stuff they're closer to," Guenther said.
The agreement with the university didn't cost Mundelein a dime. It gave Mundelein 30 rent-free months to examine the town's fire safety needs, to ensure the location is the best spot for a station and to do financial analysis for the project.
The deal expires Oct. 27, Guenther said.
During a brief public discussion Monday night, no trustees objected to letting the agreement expire. There was no formal vote.