Manhattan Fire Protection District Meeting | September 15, 2025

The Manhattan Fire Protection District Board of Trustees took a major step toward building a new fire station at its meeting on September 15, giving final approval for an $8.75 million bond sale to fund the project. The district secured a favorable 4.13% interest rate, and officials reported that construction is imminent, with foundation and utility work starting next week. For more details on the financing, see our full story.

In a significant public safety update, Fire Chief Steve Malone announced that safety upgrades are planned for the dangerous intersection of Route 50 and County Line Road, the site of 17 accidents this year. A four-way stop is expected by the end of 2025, with a full traffic light to follow in the next few years. You can read more about the planned improvements in our separate article.

The board also received a clean bill of financial health with the presentation of its annual audit and took steps to hire a new investment manager to maximize returns on district funds.

Peotone FFA Fundraiser to Benefit Fire District
The Manhattan Fire Protection District will be the beneficiary of the Peotone FFA’s (Future Farmers of America) fundraiser this year. The announcement was made as part of the Fire Marshal’s report. The specific date and details of the fundraiser were not provided.

Fire Marshal Reports on Smoke Alarm Program, Code Updates
The Fire Marshal’s office had a busy August, visiting 19 households and replacing 91 smoke alarms as part of its community safety program. The report also noted that the Village of Peotone will be updating its fire codes next month, a move the district sees as positive. The district will continue to work with both Peotone and the Village of Manhattan on fire code matters.

District Responded to 40 Incidents at Will County Fair
Deputy Chief Dave Piper reported that the fire district handled approximately 40 incidents during the Will County Fair in August. For the first time, a command van was stationed on-site, which proved to be very helpful for managing operations during the large-scale public event.