By Blake Haas

NORMAL – Property taxes will not rise for Normal residents as the town aims to build a new fire station at the tune of almost $5 million on the city’s east side.

On Monday night, the Normal Town Council voted 5-2 to finance half of the cost from a low-interest bank loan.

Scott Preston, Normal Town Council Member, said $2.5 million of the project is funded through a 10-year loan at Busey Bank at 1.46%.

“We realized that we had a major opportunity that we really need to take advantage of, of servicing people on the east side of Normal with fire protection services in a more efficient manner. Especially, when you think you have Eastview Church, Normal Community, you’ve got a retirement facility way out in east normal.”

According to Preston, $1.4 million of the total cost is coming from the Town of Normal in cash.

“The town did acquire the land, and it is has gone through the zoning process, that all took place a number of months and even a year or so ago,” Preston told WJBC’s, Scott Miller. “Construction is expected to begin with the financing to begin this year, and we’ll see with supply chain concerns with how long that ends up lasting, But, it is something that I think will serve our residents on the east side quite well.”

Preston said the new station would be built at the corner of Shepard and Hershey roads.

Another million dollars for the project is coming from a state grant.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].