Mokena Officials Break Ground At Site Of New Police Station

MOKENA, IL — In a sign of progress on the development of the new Mokena Police Department, Village officials dug in their shovels Wednesday for a ceremonial ground breaking at the site for the new station at 191st Street and 104th Avenue.

In early January 2021, Mokena Mayor Fleischer appointed a Public Safety Facility Planning Committee to re-initiate planning for the station on the 3.5 acres, which had been previously purchased by the Village, according to a news release from the Village.

The committee consisted of then-Trustee Joseph Siwinski, Trustee Joseph Budzyn, then-Interim Police Chief Tim McCarthy, Police Commander Randal Stumpf and Assistant Village Administrator Kirk Zoellner. Former Police Chief John Keating later succeed McCarthy on the committee, and Mokena Police Interim Chief Benton succeed Keating.

The committee and Mokena Police staff would proceed to meet on alternating weeks with Studio GC Architects over the next 14 months to design the station and bring it to bid, according to the release. The Village Board regularly reviewed the project’s progress and ultimately awarded the bid in May to Henry Bros. Construction for approximately $16 million.

Benton thanked the men and women of the Mokena Police Department for their contributions to the project and emphasized the benefits of the new station. He also thanked the Village Board for its support.

Benton said the new facility will have a community plaza, community room for hosting meetings and other gatherings, a fitness center, firing range, and will feature the latest in advanced technology, according to the release.

Required permitting for the facility is expected in early July, and construction is expected to get underway later in the month.

Related: Village Of Mokena Moving Forward With New Police Station