Roselle board hears facilities‑study showing major fire‑station space shortfall and multimillion‑dollar options

Roselle’s Village Board heard a multi‑department facilities and space‑needs study July 13 that flagged a significant shortfall at the village’s fire headquarters and presented multiple renovation and siting options along with order‑of‑magnitude cost estimates.

Consultants from White and Company and Matrix Consulting summarized work that began in November 2025 assessing village hall, the police station and the fire station. Danielle Apello of White and Company said the study aimed to create “actionable plans” that matched facility condition assessments with operational needs and community‑facing functions. She told trustees the village hall “generally meets the spatial needs,” but could be improved by consolidating customer service functions and updating finishes and security.

On the police station, the consultants recommended reorganizing internal space rather than wholesale replacement. Options ranged from a targeted renovation to one that relocates the training room to the ground floor to provide a public engagement space. Cost estimates in the packet listed roughly $3.0 million for a targeted police renovation and $3.6 million for the option that relocates the training room.

Fire facilities drew the most attention. The consultants said the fire headquarters currently has about a 6,000‑square‑foot deficit concentrated in decontamination areas and the residential (bunk/day) zones. The study presented two high‑level approaches: a substantial addition at the existing headquarters or a smaller renovation coupled with a new satellite station to the west. The consultants noted that, under the village’s current call volume, Roselle meets roughly 90% coverage with a six‑minute response standard but that meeting a four‑minute benchmark (now recommended in newer NFPA guidance) would require adding stations or substantially changing deployment.

Fire leadership said current apparatus could staff a satellite without buying new vehicles but that staffing models would need to change; the chief explained that additional positions would be required rather than new apparatus. In a direct explanation of the timing standard, the chief asked rhetorically: “Would you rather hold your breath for 6 minutes or 4 minutes?” and said NFPA guidance and EMS outcomes are driving the move toward four‑minute goals.

The packet included high‑level cost estimates in today’s dollars: Village Hall renovation — $2,700,000; Police option A — $3,000,000; Police option B (training relocation) — $3,600,000; Fire major addition — $12,600,000; New satellite station — $13,800,000. Consultants emphasized these numbers are un‑escalated snapshots and do not include possible land acquisition costs.

Trustees asked for further details on staffing, whether costs include temporary housing or trailer accommodations during construction, and whether stormwater mitigation or underground vaulting was part of the estimates; consultants said site‑specific stormwater work would be additional but that some stormwater mitigation assumptions were included where applicable. Trustees also asked for weighted scoring on the fire options (rather than equal weighting of scorecard factors) and for follow‑up fiscal analysis to identify likely funding pathways.

No decisions were made; the presentation was informational to help guide the village’s strategic planning. Staff said the study will inform longer‑term capital planning and that additional budget, phasing and funding work will follow.