The city of East Peoria is laying the groundwork for construction of a new fire station on Centennial Drive.
The council on Tuesday approved a contract with Midwest Engineering Associates for survey and professional design services at the proposed fire station on the Illinois Central College East Peoria campus, adjacent to Quail Meadows Golf Course.
Initial engineering fees are estimated at just over $215,000.
As proposed, the new one-story fire station would feature living quarters and an apparatus bay, with up to two entrances off Centennial Drive.
East Peoria Commissioner Dan Decker also serves as an assistant fire chief. He said a fire station is needed in the neighborhood.
"The people that live in that area will be benefitted by this station," Decker said. "(It) greatly cuts down the travel time if you live out in that area around Armstrong School at all, it makes an enormous difference in the possibility of saving someone's life."
Mayor John Kahl said the fire station concept is 30 years in the making.
"It's a good thing for our city, a good thing for ICC, a good thing for all of us," Kahl said.
The city of East Peoria currently maintains three firehouses on East Washington, West Washington, and Muller Road.
