New Lenox Waives $38,000 in Fees for Fire District’s $4 Million Station Expansion

Village of New Lenox Board of Trustees Meeting | October 13, 2025

Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board has unanimously voted to waive $38,000 in building permit and plan review fees for the New Lenox Fire Protection District’s planned $4 million expansion of Fire Station #2. The village waived the fees as a gesture of cooperation with its fellow government agency, which needs to add sleeping quarters to the station to accommodate full-time staffing.

Fire Station #2 Permit Fee Waiver Key Points:

• The village board voted to waive a $6,000 plan review fee and a $32,000 building permit fee.

• The fees are for the Fire District’s planned 2,500-square-foot addition to Fire Station #2 on North Cedar Road.

• The project, estimated to cost $4 million, will add sleeping quarters for full-time firefighter staffing.

• Village staff recommended the waiver, citing the district’s status as another governmental agency.

The New Lenox Village Board on Monday, October 13, 2025, unanimously agreed to waive $38,000 in fees for the New Lenox Fire Protection District to support a planned $4 million expansion of its Fire Station #2.

The board’s action waives a $6,000 plan review fee and a $32,000 building permit fee associated with the project. The Fire District is planning a 2,500-square-foot addition to its station located at 1205 North Cedar Road.

Community Development Director Robin Ellis explained that the expansion is necessary to modernize the facility for current operational needs. “This building this station was not initially designed to anticipate being staffed full-time which as you know has evolved over time,” Ellis said. The primary purpose of the addition is to provide much-needed sleeping quarters for the firefighters who now staff the station around the clock.

Village staff recommended waiving the fees, a common practice when one government body undertakes work within another’s jurisdiction. “Because they are another governmental agency, Staff is recommending the Village Board waive the permit fees,” Ellis stated.

The motion to approve the waiver was made by Trustee Amy Gugliuzza and seconded by Trustee Katie Christopherson. With Mayor Tim Baldermann and Trustee Jim Wilson absent, the motion passed with a 5-0 vote. The decision represents a significant cost savings for the Fire District and underscores the cooperative relationship between the two local government bodies as they work to improve public safety infrastructure.