Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
With a mission to close what trustees view as an information gap, the Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District will host a public meeting Wednesday to form what officials hope will be a critical mass of public support for a March tax increase.
The previous three attempts to get residents to support equipment replacement and
emergency responderfirefighter pay increases failed.With each question the margin of defeat shrank. More than 60 percent of voters turned back the district’s request for a 95 percent tax increase last April. District President Bob Handley said the improved referendum results stem from an increasing number of residents learning they’ve been getting a bargain on fire and ambulance service for years.
At 27 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation, the percentage of the property tax bill the district represents is just above the township cemetery district. The district is unaware of another fire district in northern Illinois with a lower tax rate. That’s great for taxpayers. It hasn’t been great for the district’s equipment or staff.
The district fields more calls (1,345 in 2016) than officials anticipated when breaking away from St. Charles. That’s caused more wear and tear on equipment, much of it purchased used. And the staff is in a continuous state of training thanks to rampant turnover.
“Our pay scale … to say it’s subpar would be an understatement,” Handley said. “They love to come and get trained here. But they’d be foolish to stay once they get an offer with a full-time department.”
District officials cut 10 employees after the failed April tax increase. The district has two stations, but can only afford to keep one station open at a time without more money. The planned brownouts will mean nine firefighters will lose their jobs. Residents might also experience longer response times depending upon which station they are closest to and if it is in operation when their emergency occurs.
The district has not had a tax rate increase in 12 years. A successful March referendum would increase the tax rate to 44 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value. That’s an increase of about $216 for the owner of a $400,000 home.
thanks Dan
#1 by Austin on January 5, 2018 - 2:40 PM
CS, if that part of the district was back under St. Charles (like it was for decades) people would be happy. A lot of people don’t want an increase from Fox River because of the extreme distrust and former mismanagement. STC already has a higher rate then Fox River charges so I doubt that will be a point of contention. You must also remember before Fox River went solo it was covered by St. Charles, South Elgin, West Chicago, Elburn, Pingreeen Grove, Burlington, and possibly a sliver in Geneva’s district. This is a MASSIVE district. The most populate areas are Campton Hills (former district of mostly stc and Elburn) and Valley View and Wayne (former stc and South Elgin district). So while stc is used the most as an example because they use to cover easily over half the district, there are a lot of players in this.
Michael, that makes too much sense lol. Fox River is solely responsible for everything because they thought they could do it better and cheaper then everyone else. You had Gaffeny screwed everything up with his ego, and put that before the districts needs. It is too long ago to remember what the district paid stc, but it was around 1 million. The district also help pay for stc tender (which Fox River asked for after the split lol). I wish nothing more then your idea to come to fruition, but until Fox River admits defeat I don’t see it happening. My parents still live in the district, perhaps I can convince them to go to the meeting and bring up that point. I’m sure the response will be funny from the chief and/or board.
#2 by Michael M on January 5, 2018 - 3:06 AM
I would imagine 90 percent of Fox Rivers runs are for EMS. Why not just focus on EMS and run one ambulance out of each of their stations? Why not work out a deal with either Elburn or St. Charles to put a engine at the station off of Rte 64 and work with South Elgin to put a engine at the station off of route 25?
#3 by cs on January 4, 2018 - 7:58 PM
What happens if stc wants more money ,they still need a tax increase
#4 by Austin on January 4, 2018 - 6:04 PM
Michael you are correct. They own land at Redgate Rd and Rt. 31(across the street from St. Charles North High School). I’m not sure if they ever bought the land or not, but they were talking about buying land at Burlington Rd. and Bolcum Rd, which is 1/2 mile from Fox River station 1 on Rt 64 in Campton Hills. That was going to be used solely for ambulances with the possibility of an engine at some point in time. Now obviously nothing came of it because of the split. So if stc takes over Fox River, I see no reason why they can’t make that station stc station #4. It is an ideal location because you have some huge subdivisions in that area plus the “down town” area of Campton Hills. If you take the Elburn station in Lilly Lake, current Fox River station 1, and stc station #3 they are all basically off of rt 64 and about 4 miles apart from each other. That is great coverage, especially since there are not many hydrants in this area outside of Fox Mill subdivision and the commercial section of Campton Hills/Wasco. Fox River should just focus on ambulance service, and go back to contracting with stc for fire. They could share fox river station #1. I wish I still lived in the district or area so I could go to the information meeting and give them a piece of my mind.
#5 by Michael M on January 4, 2018 - 11:27 AM
I heard that once upon a time the City of St. Charles purchased land for a fire station somewhere in the unincorporated area currently covered by Fox River Countryside.
Why not have them go back with St. Charles if they dissolve and have the city re-visit the idea of a 4th station in that area?
Over 1300 calls in a year! How many calls did they think they would have? My guess is 80 percent of those calls is for EMS. Why not just shut down the fire service and only run Ambulances out of their two stations?
I don’t know how far it is from the majority of residences in Campton Hills from St. Charles Station 3. My guess is if they dissolved, that would increase response times. I am guessing Elburn and St. Charles would pick up coverage for Campton Hills.
I know Elburn station 1 is on 38 and their station 3 is in Lily Lake. Both of which are still a distance from Campton Hills.
#6 by Austin on January 4, 2018 - 9:44 AM
I wish they would just admit this was a stupid idea and dissolve. How do you underestimate the call volume? The area has had growth since they went solo, but not by that much. The area that includes Campton Hills and township have a lot of older people and empty nesters. Also you had access to the data from stc before you broke off. So there shouldn’t be a major discrepancy like they say. If you shut a station down, people will revolt and will probably pressure them to dissolve. Also St. Charles, Elburn, and South Elgin will be angry that they will be called on more.
FFPM571 that is a great idea!
#7 by FFPM571 on January 4, 2018 - 7:26 AM
Get Gaffeny to pay the difference.. This district was his whole idea
#8 by Mike C on January 3, 2018 - 8:33 PM
I’m pretty sure the taxpayers keep shooting down the referendum since they were promised their taxes wouldn’t increase when this new fire district was established. Shut em down!