MT. MORRIS — The new Mt. Morris Firehouse is now scheduled to begin construction in spring 2025, a Mt. Morris Fire Protection District press release on Aug. 1 said.
Originally the project timeline had the district breaking ground for the new facility in the spring of 2024. The project is being sourced with federal, state and local funds. A “significant” source of funding is a $1 million dollar Congressionally Directed
Spending Grant that the district was awarded in 2022. The district was told it would see its first grant payment in summer of 2023, and that did not occur. Through engagement with the district and its federal legislators, the district was able to secure its first payment in June 2024.
“Now that the federal obligation is in place, the district is moving forward full steam,” the press release said. “The district has recently contracted architectural and engineer services for the final stages of the planning. Final construction documents will be done in late fall 2024. The project will then be placed out for bid. The district is confident with the hurdles now removed that construction will begin in the spring of 2025.”
On Aug. 15 of last year, the district completed the purchase of land for the new firehouse site. The land is comprised of four parcels located in the 10 block of South McKendrie Avenue. The site included to the north, the two previous hardware store buildings and the house on the corner of Main & McKendrie. To the south, it included the house on the corner of Front Street & McKendrie Avenue and the house immediately to the west. Those structures were demolished for the project.
The site was chosen due to proximity to the district’s service area and access to utilities such as water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and fiber optic lines.
After the new facility is in operation, the district's century-old firehouse will be put up for sale.
The project has seen community support and donations in recent years.
