The village of Homer Glen is looking to build a new facility to house its Emergency Management Agency.
The village pays more than $27,000 a year to rent a garage at 15757 Annico Drive, but officials are considering a new building on the grounds of Heritage Park, 14110 W. 151st St., behind the Homer Glen Village Hall.
The former Woodbine Golf Course clubhouse and banquet rooms were remodeled into the new Village Hall, which opened in 2016.
Village officials had thought about using the Village Hall basement to house the agency, but it would not be feasible, Mayor George Yukich said. The ceilings in the basement are too low and it is not handicapped accessible, he said.
The village has $250,000 in its budget for a new EMA building, which would house emergency equipment, radio systems and a training area.
The village board Wednesday authorized $8,770 for Tria Architecture to study the needs of the agency.
The needs assessment is expected to be completed in February, and the village could begin construction on a new building next year, Yukich said.
The Emergency Management Agency is made up of volunteers who help the police and fire departments in major events and also handle crowd control at parades, festivals and other village functions.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
