This from Bill Friedrich
Here is a shot of the new quarters for Tri State Sta.4 It is reported that all the Willow Springs vehicles are in storage. The future disposition of them is not known at this time.Bill
Tri-State FPD Station 4 in Willow Springs. Bill Friedrich photo
#1 by Donna on October 15, 2013 - 8:59 PM
Will there still be an open house at the 63rd Street location as they have in past years or will it be in Willow Springs?
#2 by Bill Friedrich on October 15, 2013 - 7:38 PM
The rig is still lettered 541. To me that means Station 4. There is very little going on at the Station on 63rd street. Ambulance still come out of Stat.2 and 3
#3 by Martin Nowak on October 15, 2013 - 7:05 PM
Seen a firefighter power washing the sidewalk today by a side door. Sure looked like nothing was going on. Took him 20 minutes to get a few slabs over.
#4 by Mike on October 14, 2013 - 9:12 PM
Check out bettergov.org
#5 by Mike on October 14, 2013 - 9:12 PM
Most reform groups and editorial page writers are strong proponents of government consolidation, and for obvious reasons: When it’s done right it saves money and improves efficiency.
By Andy Shaw/BGA
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Most reform groups and editorial page writers are strong proponents of government consolidation, and for obvious reasons: When it’s done right it saves money and improves efficiency.
Three Better Government Association Investigations in six months. Here is the latest.
Case in point:
Another merger in the western suburbs also gave us cause for concern, though not in a criminal context.
As of Oct. 1, the Village of Willow Springs eliminated its part-time fire department and contracted out fire and emergency medical services to the nearby Tri-State Fire Protection District, in what was sold to Willow Springs’ residents as a cost-savings move.
And not be a bad move, in theory.
But a review of Tri-State’s track record makes us wonder whether, in practice, it’s good for taxpayers.
A three-person board governs the district, which levies its own tax and provides fire and EMS services to parts of Burr Ridge, Darien, Willowbrook, unincorporated DuPage County and, now, Willow Springs.
Read more: A Burning Conflict
One of those elected board members, Jill Strenzel, is the long-time domestic partner of Tri-State’s fire chief, Michelle Gibson. The two live together and formed a civil union last year.
As a Tri-State trustee, Strenzel has voted for generous pay raises and other perks since Gibson became chief in 2008, which looks like an obvious conflict of interest.
And under Gibson’s watch, the district has been burning through taxpayer money with a number of questionable purchases, including steak and lobster dinners; excessive bonuses and overtime; new Ford Expeditions; and legal bills that, from 2007 to 2012, jumped from about $13,000 annually to more than $100,000, according to documents obtained under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
Along with the pro bono help of the financial advisory firm Duff & Phelps, the BGA found that Tri-State’s general fund expenditures increased by 24 percent from 2008 to 2012, compared to the years 2003 to 2007, when expenditures actually went down 2 percent.
Overall, Tri-State’s general fund spending exceeded its revenues by more than $2.7 million from 2008 to 2012.
So the question is obvious: Should the district be expanding and taking on more responsibilities when its own financial house isn’t in order?
Read more: Why Public Safety Mergers Are Inevitable
What’s more, Tri-State and Willow Springs hastily approved a three-year agreement that effectively shut down Tri-State’s station in Willowbrook, and shifted staff and equipment to the Willow Springs firehouse, with little notice to residents or employees.
Willow Springs’ residents were told this would save tax money, but it’s putting a bigger burden on Tri-State residents in the short run, and that could mean higher taxes in Willow Springs in the long run, according to interviews and a copy of the consolidation agreement.
Bottom-line: Consolidations are important reform steps when they’re executed properly. But public officials have to approach them cautiously and thoughtfully.
Because efficiency talk is cheap. But doing it poorly is expensive. For us, the taxpayers.
#6 by Resident on October 14, 2013 - 3:58 PM
Are they running an ambulance or is it coming from the Madison street location?
#7 by Tom on October 14, 2013 - 2:44 PM
Don’t you mean Tri-State Station 5? Remember they didn’t shut down Station 4…they just moved people and equipment.
#8 by FD Insider on October 14, 2013 - 9:59 AM
are they at the bottom of the River,Willow Springs has that history sometimes people were put in cars that were dumped in the river………..hmmmmmm better check