The TribLocal has an article about the Winnetka Fire Department and the Northfield Fire Department entering into an agreement to share fire inspectors.
Winnetka’s two-person fire prevention bureau will begin providing fire inspections for the village of Northfield under an agreement between the two municipalities. Northfield officials approached Winnetka about providing services on a contractual basis after the village’s longtime, part-time employee recently retired.
At a quick glance it seemed to be a good fit,” said Winnetka Fire Chief Alan Berkowsky. “They had the same codes as us. They had pretty much the same ordinances. And of course their proximity is really close.”
Berkowsky said the agreement builds on an effort to save money by sharing services with nearby communities. Winnetka and Northfield already share fire and emergency medical dispatch with a number of other communities.
Berkowsky said Northfield is getting a “trusted, competent fire prevention bureau at a reasonable cost,” while Winnetka is getting a new revenue source.
The total annual fee to Winnetka will be $21,238, officials said.
Winnetka currently has two-part time inspectors, but one recently retired from the Glenview Fire Department, which will give him more time to devote to fire prevention, Berkowsky said. The work in Northfield is expected take up about 30 percent of the inspectors’ time, according to village documents.
The services include annual inspections of 143 structures in Northfield, responding to fire prevention related inquiries, witnessing system tests, attending special events and coordinating plan reviews.
