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Posts Tagged East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District

West Dundee Fire Department & East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District news (more)

Jan 10

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

West Dundee is forging ahead with efforts to consolidate local fire departments. Trustees voted 4-1 to continue discussing a possible intergovernmental agreement with the Rutland-Dundee Fire Protection District that would have both departments working under one management team.

Monday’s discussion follows on the heels of the East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District’s decision to terminate an intergovernmental agreement with West Dundee that was approved in 2016 and had West Dundee Fire Chief Randy Freise taking the helm of both departments which began Jan. 1, 2017.

The agreement called for the cost of the chief position to be shared equally by each village. In terms of hierarchy, the East Dundee Fire Protection District’s deputy chief began reporting to Freise, and Freise reported to both the West Dundee village manager and the East Dundee Fire District board. West Dundee officials had hoped the two agencies could then work with Rutland-Dundee in coordinating joint fire management services.

But citing budget concerns, the East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District board voted in September to give 90 days notice of its intent to opt out of the agreement.

The proposed structure for the new joint fire management services concept would include utilizing the existing management staffs of the two departments, as well as the creation of a three-member board, with one member from Rutland-Dundee, one from West Dundee, and one to be agreed upon by the respective elected officials of both organizations, to serve as an oversight committee.

The chief and deputy chief would report directly to the board in regards to operations and day-to-day management issues, and the individual board members would report back to their respective full boards. West Dundee’s village manager would also serve as an ex-officio member to aid the fire staff in its day-to-day responsibilities.

The discussion does not exclude Carpentersville, which has been part of the effort in recent years to share resources and standardize operations. Carpentersville has expressed its desire to further evaluate the concept and leaders from both villages plan to meet in the coming weeks to discuss it.

Several West Dundee board members expressed their support for moving the concept forward for discussion.

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East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District news

Oct 2

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

On Friday, the East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District Board voted to give 90 days notice of its intent to opt out of the agreement approved in 2016 which had West Dundee Fire Chief Randy Freise taking the helm of both departments.

At the time, both East and West Dundee officials heralded the intergovernmental agreement as taking another great step toward a functional consolidation.

Freise began overseeing both entities Jan. 1, 2017. The agreement called for the cost of the chief position to be shared equally by each village, including salary and benefits. In terms of hierarchy, the East Dundee Fire Protection District’s deputy chief began reporting to Freise, and Freise reported to both the West Dundee village manager and the East Dundee Fire District Board. Freise recently announced his intent to retire in August of 2019.

After approving Freise’s leadership over both departments, East and West Dundee also agreed to share the services of its fire prevention officer. Other cost-saving opportunities as a result of the joint management have included shared training, programs, vehicles and apparatus.

Mark Guth, president of the East Dundee Fire Protection District, said Friday’s decision came down to terminating the agreement or terminating one of the department’s full-time personnel.

“It costs us $80,000 a year for the shared chief. It’s running us into a $100,000 deficit,” Guth said. “It’s mandated that we operate on a balanced budget.”

“We don’t have the money,” added Trustee John Bonkoski. “Randy’s done a great job. We know it’s going to be a step in the wrong direction, but we have to look at our taxpayers. We can’t afford it. That’s the bottom line.”

“My concern for the district and the department is that this is going to be a big step backward,” Freise said. “I think we’ve accomplished a lot these last two years. A lot of things aren’t seen behind the scenes that we’ve accomplished. Fire prevention has improved by leaps and bounds. Every agreement we’ve made has been a success. We’ve been building on small victories and working toward a functional consolidation. All these years we’ve tried to improve service by working together I feel today has taken a big step backward.”

The concept would continue through an intergovernmental relationship expanded to include the Rutland-Dundee Fire Protection District as well as the Village of West Dundee to share and coordinate the overall administration, management and clerical support for all employees responsible for fire services under one management team.

Rutland-Dundee Chief Richard Thomas said in a letter to the West Dundee village manager dated Sept. 25 that Rutland fire trustees recently discussed at great length the concept of joint fire management services.

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East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District news

Jun 10

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

A man found dead in a Dundee Township house fire had a gunshot wound, and authorities believe the blaze was started intentionally.

The man — who has not been identified because of extensive burns — and a dog were found dead early Wednesday in a fire that destroyed a house at 15N384 Richardson Drive, Kane County Sheriff’s Lt. Pat Gengler said.

An autopsy conducted Thursday determined a gunshot projectile was found inside the body.

The home was engulfed in flames when (East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District) firefighters arrived shortly before 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. Though firefighters were initially unable to enter the structure because of the intensity of the fire, the blaze was brought under control by 4:06 a.m. The man and dog were then found dead in the house.

Authorities are following a few different leads, though Gengler said the investigation has been difficult because the man’s identity is still unknown.

Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity near the residence is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (630) 444-1103.

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West Dundee Fire Department & East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District news (more)

Nov 23

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the Chicagotribune.com:

Two area fire departments are taking a positive step forward in their pursuit of a functional consolidation.

At Monday’s meeting, West Dundee trustees approved an intergovernmental agreement allowing the village to share the services of its fire prevention officer, Rick Paul, with the East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District. He will work three days a week in West Dundee and twice a week in East Dundee.

Per the agreement, he will remain an employee of West Dundee. The village will charge East Dundee $35 per hour to cover expenses such as insurance and vacation time. East Dundee will provide office space and a vehicle for the days Paul works in that village.

Paul served the Carpentersville Fire Department for more than 35 years will begin his new role Jan. 1.

The approval follows on the heels of an intergovernmental agreement reached in August which will have West Dundee Fire Chief Randy Freise taking the helm of both departments beginning Jan. 1.

“It is an effort to use our resources in the most cost-effective method while raising the bar for both departments,” he said. “West Dundee is offering the skills of an experienced fire inspector and East Dundee has some technological advances that would benefit West Dundee.”

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West Dundee Fire Department & East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District news

Aug 11

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History, Fire Department News | 1 Comment

Excerpts from theDailyHerald.com:

West Dundee Fire Chief Randy Freise is preparing to take on the added responsibility of overseeing day-to-day operations, training, personnel and other administrative duties for the East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District. The move comes at a convenient time for the East Dundee Fire District, as Chief Steve Schmitendorf plans to retire at the end of the year.

On Monday, the West Dundee village board unanimously approved a final agreement for joint management services, which will go into effect Jan. 1. The East Dundee Fire District board has also approved the concept.

“The main goal is to bring both departments together functioning as one department,” Freise said in a memo. “If successful, this could lay the groundwork for future cooperative efforts.”

Under the new agreement, the two entities will evenly split the cost of the shared chief position, which is set at $151,796.62 for 2017. That cost includes Freise’s $113,000 salary, he said, as well as benefits and other personnel expenses.

According to West Dundee documents, this is expected to result in cost savings of roughly $75,000.

Either department can opt out of the agreement at any time by providing 90 days notice to the other entity.

As a result of having one leader, Freise said, the two fire departments will likely share other resources, including vehicles and apparatus. He also anticipates combined training efforts, more cooperation between staffs, and in turn, better and more efficient responses to emergencies.

thanks Dan

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Fire departments consider sharing a fire chief

Jun 7

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Calling it a tremendous step toward the pursuit of functional consolidation, East and West Dundee fire departments will consider sharing a chief once the head of East Dundee’s department retires later this year. East Dundee Fire Chief Steve Schmitendorf is set to retire in December.

At Monday’s village board meeting, West Dundee officials approved executing an intergovernmental agreement with the East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District for joint management services. The measure now has to be approved by members of the East Dundee Fire Protection District board.

The East Dundee Fire District board met twice, once in April and again in May to discuss options for replacing Schmitendorf upon his retirement, West Dundee Fire Chief Randy Freise said in a memo to the West Dundee Village Board. Members were very interested in signing an intergovernmental agreement with West Dundee to have Freise take the helm of both departments.

At Monday’s West Dundee Village Board meeting, Freise went more in-depth as to what that consolidation would look like. He said a main advantage would be the cost savings realized by sharing a chief. East Dundee has proposed a salary of $125,000, including benefits, which would be shared 50/50, he said.

Freise would oversee both departments, with East Dundee’s fire deputy chief being directly responsible for East Dundee personnel. The deputy chief would report directly to Freise. Freise, in turn would continue to report directly to West Dundee Village Manager Joseph Cavallaro as well as the East Dundee Fire District Board.

Freise said the main goal will be to bring both departments together to function as one department, and other cost savings would come from sharing vehicles, training, and programs.

He added the agreement is very low risk due to an opt out clause that can be incorporated stating either party can terminate the agreement with a written 90-day notice.

Last December, citing nearly impossible hurdles at the state level, the Carpentersville Fire Department, East Dundee Fire Protection District and West Dundee Fire Department opted not to seek a legal consolidation.

 

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