Two homes removed along Franklin Street as Cornbelt prepares to build apparatus station

The Corn Belt Fire Department began the process of removing a few houses along Franklin Street Friday morning as they prepare to build a new, seven-bay apparatus station along Franklin Street this year.

Plans for the new station have been in the making for a couple years as the Department assessed its ability to serve residents and addressed needs for additional storage. Over a year ago, the Department purchased part of the parking lot adjacent to the current station on Main Street. They also purchased two houses behind the station along Franklin Street where the new building will be located.

Initial discussions looked into expanding the current building, but because of the way additions were designed with the slope of the land along Main Street, the Department decided a new building along Franklin Street would be more cost effective.

The Corn Belt Fire District was established in 1953. The first building included a call center and two bays for trucks. In the 1970’s the building was expanded to include three additional bays and office space. Then in 1990 the station received a complete outside renovation and six additional bays.

Now with 10 fire trucks, rescue vehicles, water rescue vehicles, additional transportation vehicles and a parade truck, the Department struggles to retrieve equipment, which is stacked two back in their current building. The new building will not only make the fire trucks easily accessible, but also provide additional storage for grass trucks, the dive and rescue trailer, snowmobiles and Bobcat.

After meeting with several local banks to get preliminary rates, the Department decided to only continue with the new fire station, and revisit renovations to the current fire station at a later date.

The Corn Belt Fire Department has a balanced budget with money available to begin  this project. Five-year projections show that the current tax base will provide adequate funds for the future of this project. Taxes rates will not be affected.

The District services residents and businesses west of Mahomet to County Line Road, south to Interstate 72, east to Duncan Road in Champaign and north to 2700N.

The $2.7 million project includes contingencies, fees, surveys and demolition of the two homes along Franklin Street.