Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
The Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District has gotten the thumbs-up to borrow $13 million for new equipment and an additional station.
Unofficial results show 1,912 people voted “yes” and 1,421 people voted “no,” with all 25 Kane County precincts reporting and two of three DuPage County precincts. Final results won’t be available until after July 12, which is the last day vote-by-mail ballots can be counted.
The district wants to use the money to pay off old debt, buy new vehicles and equipment, and eventually build a third fire station. That station would be on land the district already owns, at Crane and Bolcum roads in St. Charles Township.
District officials said response times in the 38-square-mile district are faster on its east and west sides, where the two existing stations operate — one in Wasco, one near Wayne. The third station would provide equity districtwide. Currently, average response times districtwide are 7 to 8 minutes, but it can take 10 minutes for rescue workers to get to the center of the district.
The district intends to put aside $5 million of the $13 million bond proceeds toward the construction of the station, which officials said likely won’t be built until at least 2025.
The district would use $5 million for equipment and vehicles, and the rest of the money would go to pay off the debt for the construction of the two existing stations.
If the district gets to borrow the $13 million, officials estimate that the owner of a house with a market value of $300,000 would pay $130.27 more in taxes a year. District officials said they intend to pay off the bonds in 10 years.
The district serves residents in the villages of Campton Hills and Wayne and unincorporated areas in St. Charles and Campton townships. It used to hire the St. Charles Fire Department to handle its calls, but in 2011 decided to start doing the work itself. Since then, voters have rejected tax-rate increases six times.
thanks Rob
#1 by Austin on July 1, 2022 - 9:18 AM
Michael M the new station at the intersection listed in the article, is just west of Randall Rd, right in-between the boarder of South Elgin and STC. Actually not a bad location.
Its not like the area does not have protection currently, the problem is the years of mismanagement. People in the district really do not care for the department, and want the old way of fire protection. Being they have easily gone through 10 pieces of apparatus in 12 years is a prime example. Obviously some of the used stuff they originally bought was sold, but the original batch of International/Alexis were gone in less than 5 years. The original Alexis engine is gone. Why get rid of apparatus that is on the newer side and not past its life expectancy? This is why people hate them
#2 by Michael m on June 30, 2022 - 11:27 AM
Ok, they finally got approval for the money. Where are they going to build the third station? I believe their oldest apparatus is the 2016 Alexis engine 11. Within the last two years they purchased a pumper tanker for station 2 and a mini pumper for station 1. I am sure they could use two new ambulances and a new BC car. Other than that they are not in that bad of shape.
Glad they got approval, that area definitely needs fire protection.
#3 by Austin on June 30, 2022 - 8:38 AM
Harry, a ladder truck is not necessary there as there isn’t anything that tall in the district. Plus South Elgin, STC, Elburn all have one that they could use from mutual aid.
What I don’t get was they were browning out the Campton Hills (Wasco) station not that long ago, so how will they be able to afford 3? If all the money is going to buying new apparatus and building a station, how will they pay for staffing and upkeep? Also the district is 12 years old, and they have gone through so much apparatus in that time. Why did they never keep their original Alexis/International apparatus? I get they aren’t the best, but they got rid of them very fast. The department just burns through money and staff.
#4 by Mike C on June 30, 2022 - 6:35 AM
$5 million for equipment is a lot of money for a fire district with only 2 existing stations. They could buy 4 ladder trucks for this amount of money! I thought most of their equipment was relatively new.
#5 by harry on June 29, 2022 - 10:28 PM
if they are buying new vehicles thay should buy a ladder truck new bc car and maybe ambulance