The Courier-News has an article about the East Dundee Fire Protection District breaking ground for a new fire station.
EAST DUNDEE — Mark Guth was 13 years old when the fire station was built on Third Street in downtown East Dundee six decades ago.
At the time, his father was on the fire department staff. Guth, 75, is retired from the fire department and is now president of the East Dundee Fire Protection District Board of Trustees.
On Tuesday, the East Dundee resident joined other trustees, village and fire staff, and community members to break ground on the fire district’s new station.
“Today’s the day, finally,” said Fire Chief Steve Schmitendorf. “It’s very exciting. It’s something that’s been a dream for a long time.”
A $5.5 million referendum passed by taxpayers in November made possible the new fire station, which will be located near Routes 25 and 72. Fire officials said that area is more centrally located to serve their entire district, which extends as far east as Higgins Road and Interstate 90.
To make the exchange more equitable, since the village was receiving three acres of land with a complete building, East Dundee officials said they would donate $100,000 per year to the East Dundee Fire Protection District — a separate taxing body — for the 20-year life of the loan to build the station to offset payment of the bonds.
Construction is anticipated to take about 10 months.
The fire district serves the villages of East Dundee, South Barrington and Barrington Hills, and unincorporated Kane and Cook counties.
Previous posts on this topic with architectural drawings can be found HERE, HERE, and HERE.
