The Waukegan Fire Department presented a letter of intent from US HealthVest offering approximately 5 acres for a new fire station to replace the city’s aging Station 3.

Fire staff described operational advantages: the donation would allow the city to build without shutting the existing station during construction, provide a better strategic location for cross‑district access, accommodate future apparatus and personnel needs, and include space for a training tower and classroom that could serve the region. Staff noted Station 3’s current footprint and recently purchased parcels total about 0.83 acres, which the department said is insufficient for a modern station designed to last 50–70 years.

Aldermen raised practical concerns. Alderman Florian and others observed the city previously spent funds acquiring parcels for a rebuild and asked whether those expenditures would be wasted; Alderman Lynn Florian specifically asked what the donor might expect in return for the gift. Council members also pressed staff about environmental remediation: asbestos testing was in progress and results were expected in roughly two weeks, staff said. Funding for construction was not identified at the meeting; aldermen noted the city does not currently have $20 million sitting aside for construction and discussed selling redundant parcels to recover some costs if the project proceeds.

Committee action: the committee voted to move the matter forward for continued consideration and follow‑up. Staff said the donation accelerates the timeline and gives better siting options but that funding, cleanup and final negotiations remain open issues.