Braceville asking to build new fire station

BRACEVILLE – Braceville residents face a referendum from the Braceville Fire Protection District on the November ballot asking them to approve a tax increase for a new firehouse.

Braceville residents will be asked on the ballot whether to allow the district to issue $600,000 in bonds to build and equip a new station. The district has already purchased 2.25 acres on the north side of the village along Division Street, where the fire station would be constructed.

The referendum reads, “Shall the Braceville Fire Protection District, Grundy County, Illinois, build and equip a new fire station, improve the site thereof and issue its bonds in the amount of $600,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?”

Fire Chief Nate Basham said the district’s current facility is Braceville’s community center, which it rents from the village and is not sufficient to hold the equipment they have or for other needed equipment.

The fire protection district has been housed in the village’s center for more than 50 years.

“The rigs are getting bigger,” Basham said. “We’ve been here over 40 years, and in that time, the equipment has gotten much larger.”

The $600,000 bond referendum would increase taxes by $100 for every $100,000 of assessed property value, and would do so for 20 years, according to the district.

If the referendum is passed, the increase would show up on tax bills starting in 2016.

The district, which covers nine square miles, includes farmland, homes and businesses, and the Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife area, which is comprised of multiple lakes.

“We are responsible for covering a lot of water in Mazonia,” Fire Lt. Tim Thompson said. “We don’t even have room to store a boat we would need for water rescue.”

The district, which has 22 members with eight on the district payroll, is eligible to have 30 members, according to its bylaws. But Basham said there just isn’t room for any more.

Equipment is stored in two separate bays, separated by a community room that can be rented by anyone in the community. They also share bathrooms and a kitchen with the community room.

“Because it is a public building, there is no way to secure our department items or personal items,” Basham said.

Thompson also said there are safety concerns.

“There are no showers here. When we return from a call, we can’t take a shower before going home, risking taking contaminants into our homes,” Thompson said.

Other things have changed within the department, including having men and women serve side by side, but only having one room with three beds for them to stay in.

“We can’t sleep coed,” Basham said.

The district averages about 120 calls a year, and provides mutual aid when available.

Basham said if the referendum passes, the district can build a new facility to continue to provide public safety for the community, as well as space to train.