Archive for February 13th, 2014

DuPage County Board to dissolve paper fire district

Mysuburbanlife.com has an article about the DuPage County board of directors taking advantage of a new state law to dissolve the Fairview fire District …

The provisions of the landmark bill allowing DuPage County to dissolve county-appointed government agencies were first exercised at Tuesday’s County Board meeting, when the proposed dissolution of the Fairview Fire Protection District of unincorporated Downers Grove was approved.

The bill, SB-494, was signed into law in early August by Gov. Pat Quinn, and allows the board to identify and dissolve outdated, defunct or redundant bodies such as mosquito abatement and sanitary districts to streamline services.

Board Chairman Dan Cronin said the county was the first in the state to enact such a law and called Tuesday’s unanimous vote a “momentous occasion.”

“We take this responsibility very seriously and we are using these new tools in a thoughtful manner that will project our successes beyond our own borders both in the region and in the entire state,” he said.

The Fairview District does not own fire equipment or employ staff, but levies an annual property tax and has an agreement with the village of Downers Grove to provide its emergency response services to 187 parcels of property, according to a county news release.

Yet the district owes more than $100,000 to the village of Downers Grove, according to an assessment prompted by the DuPage County Board. The assessment determined that, due to tax caps, the district would not be able to resolve the unpaid obligation without a referendum to seek additional money.

Now, a Special Service Area has been created for the parcels, effectively removing the middle man of the Fairview District, and the village has agreed to waive the debt. The creation of the Special Service Area will also eliminate administrative costs such as audit fees.

Before the district can be formally dissolved, an audit will be performed and an ordinance calling for its formal dissolution must be passed by the board, the release said. A trustee in dissolution will then be appointed and, after a five-month waiting period, the district will be dissolved.

Cronin said the county worked to build consensus and support for the closure for a year and a half, but has another four to five dissolutions it will consider in the near future, including the sanitary districts of Salt Creek and Highland Hills.

The chairman said work of this nature is complicated and difficult to approach responsibly without forcing change onto unwilling parties, so the seemingly small progress of one district was significant.

“That’s the challenging part about consolidation, there’s no ‘one size fits all,'” he said. “You have to look at each unit individually.”

 thanks Dan

… is this the first action towards a broader consolidation?

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New aerials for CFD

Martin Nowak and Dennis McGuire Jr. found this link on the SpartanERV website for two new aerials in production for Chicago

Chicago Fire Department, IL (213115-02)

Series: Aerial

Model: 103′ Rearmount Ladder

Chassis: Spartan Gladiator

Dealer: Equipment Management Company (EMC)

Specifications:

Rear Mount Platform

Stainless Steel Body

Roll Up Doors

fire truck being built for Chicago

SpartanErv photo

fire truck being built for Chicago

SpartanErv photo

fire truck being built for Chicago

SpartanErv photo

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Koeppen named acting chief in Arlington Heights

The Daily Herald has an article stating that Arlington Heights veteran Ken Koeppen has been named to the position of acting fire chief.

Arlington Heights has named Deputy Fire Chief Ken Koeppen its Acting Fire Chief effective Friday, officials said.

Koeppen, a 33-year department veteran, recently was credited with helping save the life of Arlington Heights Police Officer Michael McEvoy after he was shot in the face while responding to a domestic dispute late last year.

Koeppen will serve as acting fire chief until a new permanent fire chief is appointed. His promotion follows the retirement of Chief Glenn Ericksen. Koeppen started his career with the Arlington Heights Fire Department in 1980, was promoted to lieutenant in 1995, commander in 1998 and deputy fire chief in 2005.

Village officials will conduct a formal search for a replacement fire chief to lead the 110-employee department, but Koeppen said he would be interested in the job. “If I’m fortunate enough to be chosen, I’m willing to take on the challenge,” he said.

thanks Dan

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Where are they now … Highland Park

From Jeff Rudolph:

Highland Park,IL Squad 34, Now Poseyville,IN. Jeff R

 

Saulsbury medium-duty rescue squad

Former Highland Park Squad 33. Jeff Rudolph photo

Saulsbury medium-duty rescue squad

The former Highland Park squad is now Poseyville Fire Department Rescue 2. Frank Wegloski photo

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