Architects Approved for New Police, Public Works Buildings

The village's massive capital improvements plan continues to make progress as architects were approved Monday to build a new police station and public works facility. 

Both projects are part of a $24 million in capital improvements that include .

Last year the New Lenox Village Board voted to increase its sales tax by a 1/2 a cent, bringing the total rate to 8.5 percent, and also increase its utility tax 5 percent on gas and electric to help pay for the projects.

The met Aug. 27 and approved Oak Brook-based FGM Architects was given the nod of approval to begin drawing up plans for the estimated $9.5 million police station construction project.

The board first approved a flat fee of $750,000 for FGM experts to design the building and follow the construction process from beginning to end. They are not project managers, village administrator Kurt Carroll said, but they will work closely with the project to ensure that all aspects of the design are implemented correctly.

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What stands out with FGM is the fact that they specialize in municipal buildings.

"They have experience building police stations," Carroll said.

The new police station is anticipated to be a 30,000-square-foot, two-story structure built on Veterans Parkway on the northeast side of the . The building is expected to open in spring of 2014, he said.

Meanwhile, the public works building, which is planned to be completed a full year earlier, is quite a bit larger, Carroll said. 

The public works department requires much more space because it needs to accommodate trucks and equipment, according to Carroll. Cherry Hill Business Park is the site for the planned public works building. The building will have a couple garages to keep the trucks and equipment out of the weather and to service and maintain the equipment.

The building will be divided up between the water and streets departments.

Northern Builders, a Chicago-based industrial and commercial architectural firm, was authorized by the village board to initiate the process for the $8.5 million construction plan. Carroll added that the property has yet to purchase for the building. Therefore, the total project will cost about $9 million.  

The board voted unanimously to seek out a construction oversight representative to ensure the project accommodates the village's stipulations. This is a common practice for these types of projects, Carroll said.

The details of both structures are anticipated to be discussed at the village's first committee of the whole meeting, which is 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at Village Hall.

The village is likely to keep the current public works facilities along Ellis Road for storage purposes, Carroll said. The current police station will be used by the New Lenox Park District. 

Equipment purchases

Trustees authorized the purchase of a leaf vacuum for a total of $14,995 from Bonnell Industries Inc. in Dixon.

In addition, the village board approved the purchase of a $12,265 radar trailer and message board from All Traffic Solutions, of State College, Penn. The radar trailer is intended for use by the police department.

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