Jerome Township officials are happy with the progress being made on the construction of a second fire station.
Division of Fire Chief Douglas Stewart gave an update to the Board of Trustees during its most recent meeting surrounding the construction of Station 211.
“The shape of the building is really starting to come together,” he said.
He said the majority of the mason work has been completed for the interior of the building and the outside walls.
Stewart added that construction crews plan to begin work with installing steel on the roof and wall panels “to get this closed in by December.”
Beyond the footprint of the station, Stewart said the underground electric and plumbing have been inspected and approved.
He said the weather has affected the construction timeline “a little bit” but crews have so far managed to shift gears rather than delay the project.
While the station is still on track to be completed in May, Stewart said the project is facing the same hurdles others throughout the state – and country – are running into.
He noted that “the entire state is on allocation for concrete,” so suppliers determine if they will finish pouring in one day or spread the project over a longer period.
Additionally, he said supply chain issues can still result in slower delivery of materials.
Stewart emphasized that he still expects Station 211 to be operational by June or July and that it should be completed within the budget parameters.
He said JTFD firefighters are equally as excited to see the project coming together.
“We’re very proud of this,” Stewart said. “The crews love going over and seeing this.”
In other business:
– Following an executive session, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to withdraw a conditional offer that was extended for the township administrator position.
Board members referred to the individual only as “candidate B” and did not share a reason for withdrawing the offer. They voted to repost the position.
– The board voted 3-0 to rezone a 15-acre site at 11555 U.S. 42 from Planned Development to Rural Residential District.
Zoning Inspector Eric Snowden explained that his research led him to believe the property, which belongs to Select Sires, was incorrectly labeled when zoning maps were kept by hand.
“It all amounts to a mis-coloring,” he said.
While the agricultural use of the property will not be affected or change, Snowden said township staff does not want to leave it zoned incorrectly, as is.
He noted that in correspondence with Select Sires’ legal representatives, they shared no opposition to the zoning change but also said they do not feel the need to be involved in the process.
Snowden added that the Logan-Union-Champaign Regional Planning Commission and the Jerome Township Zoning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning.
Trustee Chair Megan Sloat said she feels it is important for future development “and to avoid confusion” that the property is rezoned.
– Sloat encouraged the board to begin to consider “the space in the township hall” as staff continues to grow.
As officials prepare to hire a township administrator, Sloat said an office space is not available for the individual. Snowden offered to move out of his office and share with another employee in the zoning department so the administrator will have a private space.
“I think we’re situated for now but it’s going to become an issue pretty soon, I think,” Sloat said, noting that the township is currently also looking to hire an assistant zoning inspector.
Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell said officials should aim to speak to a contractor early next year to see “what’s even possible, and then, what does it cost – can we afford it?”