EAST PEORIA, Ill. – A project that’s been talked about for 30 years in East Peoria, but really put into motion in the last three years, is now about to become reality.
Ground has been broken on a $3.5 million new fire station to be located next to Illinois Central College’s East Peoria campus.
(City of East Peoria/Artist Rendering)
“It’s going to help provide fire and EMS services closer to this area of town,” said Bobby Zimmerman, East Peoria Fire Chief. “In our line of work, seconds do matter, and this is going to let us get to this area of town significantly quicker than currently.”
It was money in a major state capital construction bill both current State Senator Dave Koehler, and former State Representative Mike Unes lobbied for on a bi-partisan basis.
“It makes all the sense in the world, when most of the call are coming from this area,” said Unes. “It’s hard to believe the cost per mile to run the heavy equipment up and down the hills, with most of the calls…up on top of the hill. It just makes so much sense.”
Land for the project was donated by Illinois Central College.
The new station — which should have four people on duty around the clock — will be open by this time next year.
