Westmont leaders weigh $10M–$28M options to replace aging Station 183

Deputy Chief Tom Frank of the Westmont Fire Department led a public walkthrough and presentation of Station 183 and said the village must decide whether to repair, expand or replace the Frank J Johanek Fire Department Headquarters.

"We have office space, but we have no meeting space," Deputy Chief Tom Frank said, describing cramped administration offices, leaking ceilings and bay doors built to accommodate smaller vehicles from the station's 1991 construction.

Why it matters: Westmont officials and the fire department argued the station's physical condition and the village's rising emergency call volume have created safety, operational and accessibility problems for firefighters and the public. The fire department reported 5,516 calls last year (compared with roughly 1,253 calls in 1991), said the village's two stations combine for about 24,000 square feet and that the department now staffs 83 sworn members, including 16 women.

Most important facts: Consultants presented three options: - Temporary rehabilitation of the existing building, estimated $10–11 million. That option would add limited improvements (decontamination zones, some living-quarters changes) but would not widen apparatus bays or fully solve ADA and leak problems; presenters characterized it as likely a short-term fix. - Rehabilitation plus an addition, estimated $23–25 million. That plan would add larger bays, lengthen the apron and…