Plainfield to seek up to $500,000 Union County grant to buy building for EMS base; ownership of current rescue-squad deed complicates talks

Plainfield officials voted to seek Union County capital project funding of up to $500,000 to help buy 700–710 West Seventh Street for an EMS base and emergency operations center.

“The ability to apply for and accept a grant from Union County for their 2025 capital project grant in an amount not to exceed $500,000,” the business administrator told the council when presenting the resolution, noting the project description was attached to the resolution and that the purchase was the stated purpose.

The administration said the city currently relies on JFK and Union County ambulance services and has been temporarily housing EMS crews in a firehouse. The proposed purchase would give EMS dedicated space for equipment maintenance and a location for an Office of Emergency Management hub, the business administrator said.

Council members pressed staff on who owns the building targeted for purchase and whether the Plainfield Rescue Squad had been contacted. The business administrator said the deed was recorded to “the Plainfield Rescue Squad” as an entity and that the organization had not filed nonprofit paperwork in several years. “The deed was turned over to the Plainfield Rescue Squad, the entity,” the administration said, adding the last 501(c)(3) filing the city could find was from 2020.

That uncertainty, council members were told, makes it difficult to identify a legally authorized representative to negotiate a sale. If the city can locate a legal designee for the rescue squad, administrators said they would begin negotiations; if the owner declines to sell, city staff said there are alternative procurement options for acquiring the site.

The administration said the building was appraised at $950,000 but the appraiser could not access the interior, so the valuation could change. The business administrator said the city would apply for additional grants to cover any gap and that the $500,000 Union County request would not be placed in the city’s operating budget.

Members added the resolution to the voting meeting by consensus. In public comment that followed, multiple current and former members of the Plainfield Rescue Squad urged the council to recognize the squad’s continued presence in the city and asked the council to consider the squad in future planning and funding discussions. “We are still here,” several rescue-squad speakers said during public comment, describing training and youth programs the group has run.

The council did not negotiate purchase terms in open session; the mayor noted negotiations with private parties would be handled in closed session if needed.

Where things go next: staff said they will attempt to identify and contact any legal representative listed in corporate filings or on the deed to negotiate. The grant application to Union County will be submitted to seek the up-to-$500,000 award.

Votes and next steps: council consented to add the grant-resolution item to the upcoming voting meeting. The administration and council said further legal and negotiations work will follow before any acquisition.