Orange Village mayor previews $18 million bond package for new fire station and Village Hall renovation

Mayor Claire Klein on Thursday presented preliminary plans and budget estimates for a proposed relocation of the Orange Village Fire Department and a renovation of Village Hall, saying the village will likely pursue a single bond issue to pay for both projects.

Klein said the new fire station would be sited at Harvard and Brainerd and described a roughly 20,000‑square‑foot facility with an apparatus room, sleeping quarters, decontamination and training spaces and room for future growth. She said the architects have produced detailed cost estimates this week and that the village has engaged a quantity‑surveyor firm to refine construction costs.

"The project consists of the relocation of our existing fire department to a new facility that would be located at the intersection of Harvard and Brainerd," Klein said, reading from the plan packet and explaining the operational improvements the building would provide. She told council the presentation materials and plans are posted at orangevillage.com and invited residents to a June 1, 6:30 p.m., meeting at Village Hall where the architects will present more detailed information.

Klein said the architects’ budget puts the fire station at roughly $12.8 million and the Village Hall renovation at about $5.1 million; she said her plan is to promote a single bond issue to address both projects rather than ask voters twice. She told council she has been working with a municipal finance adviser to model how many bond issues would be required and will provide those details at the June meeting.

Council members and residents asked logistical and design questions, including whether the June 1 session will be livestreamed (Klein said it will), whether daytime access will be provided for people who cannot attend that evening (no daytime meeting is currently planned) and how many restrooms and separate staff/public facilities the renovation will include. Klein said the project design includes multiple restroom levels and separate locker and restroom areas for police and administrative staff alongside public restrooms for meeting attendees.

Traffic and public‑safety impacts were raised during Q&A. Klein said she has asked a traffic engineer for a report and that preliminary findings indicate the project will not create significant new traffic problems; she said additional traffic studies are expected and will be shared at or before the June 1 meeting. She also said the village is exploring photovoltaic installations and is meeting with NOPEC to promote renewables for the new buildings.

Klein emphasized the long‑term nature of the work. "We've not done this activity for probably over 30 years," she told council, urging residents to review the plans and attend the June 1 presentation.

Next steps: architects will present a fuller design and detailed cost breakdown at the June 1 meeting; Klein said a bond timeline and financing options will be provided to council then so members can consider ordinance and ballot timing.