METAMORA, Ill. – The federal government is giving a boost to a project in Metamora that will improve public safety services.
16th District Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) joined village leaders Friday morning to announce $4 million in funding to go towards a new facility to house the fire department and EMS.
Metamora 2nd Assistant Fire Chief Darryl Bachman says it’s a “win-win” for the village, because the current building has outlived its lifespan.
“This is an older building. There’s no ventilation in here as far as exhaust and stuff like that. So we have outgrown this,” Bachman said. “We’re getting a new fire truck here within the year, so we need bigger space, more space, to house that.”
The building is planned to be used as a multiple-use facility for the fire department and the village’s EMS. Bachman says it’s also possible the police department could use the facility, with the potential for community rooms too.
Bachman says the building is also forward-thinking. Currently, the fire department is all-volunteer, while the EMS is full-time. Bachman says the building could accommodate full-time firefighters. And he says the new building could encourage more people to join as volunteers, which would reduce the need for mutual aid calls.
Village leaders and LaHood say it’s a project that’s been a long-time coming, with discussions going back more than a decade of replacing the current firehouse.
“Sometimes these projects take a while, working through the budgetary process in Washington D.C, advocating like we did, working with our locals here was a big part of it,” LaHood said. “But kudos to the mayor and the prior mayors here for their advocacy and not letting up on getting this money.”
The project is expected to cost somewhere between $8-10 million. Village leaders estimate engineering work to be completed this summer, with the project going out for bid in 2027. Completion of the building is expected in 2028.
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