Firehouse renovation progressing

A run of good weather ended on Monday, but work on the Steeleville firehouse is coming along.

"They're pretty far along with the outside of it," said Steeleville Mayor Bob Sutton. "This rain has kind of put a damper on what was going to happen, but they were hoping to finish laying brick on the building this week.

"At this point, that seems a little bit in jeopardy."

The roughly $1.57 million project is being built through the Steeleville Improvement Association using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds.

"We're expecting the doors to put on in about two weeks," Sutton said. "Soon after the brick, we'll start getting the concrete work done on the lip on front."

The project adds four vehicle bays onto a section of building that served as Steeleville's firehouse for more than 40 years. It also served as the town hall from 1941 to 1982 before offices were moved into the current building.

In previous comments to the Steeleville Ledger, Steeleville Fire Chief Carlos Barbour said his department currently has six vehicles - two pumpers, a tanker, a brush truck and a command vehicle - in a space built for four.

A relatively dry fall has helped work crews on the project and insulation was delivered on Monday.

"We've had fantastic weather up to this point," Sutton said. "Were anticipating the roof being done by the end of the week, but again, the rain has changed things."

The expansion will allow the Steeleville Police Department to enlarge its evidence room at village hall and move its sally port to the old firehouse. The current sally port will become an interview room.

"The whole thing was we were looking at May and I really believe we're far enough into it that that should be a reasonable timeframe," Sutton said. "If we can get this thing under roof, that makes a big deal."

On the west end of town, plans are still being worked out for the former Tom's Barber Shop site that's being developed by United Ironworkers President Kim Rasnick.

"Not at this point," Rasnick said last week, when asked if there were any updates on the project. "I'm going to tear everything down whenever I get some equipment free.

"We're so busy right now, I don't have time to work on my own stuff."

The Village of Steeleville approved a TIF agreement with Rasnick during its August meeting. Under terms of the 10-year agreement, the village will reimburse Rasnick for TIF-eligible expenses not to exceed $99,800.

The village will make five annual payments in the amount of $7,676.93 from December 1, 2016 through December 1, 2020.

After that, payments will increase to $12,283.07 for the remaining five years of the agreement through December 1, 2025. The TIF district expires in 2032.

"I'm still working on some things and developing plans for the site," Rasnick said.