Posts Tagged fire department agree to share fire truck

Mundelein Fire Department news

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

The Mundelein village board went ahead with the sale of one of the department’s ladder trucks despite criticism from residents and even a former fire chief.

People packed Monday night’s village board meeting to oppose the ladder truck sale as well as plans to restructure the fire department’s command staff. Critics included former Fire Chief Tim Sashko, who lives in Mundelein and spoke at length about the potential hazards of the two proposals.

Sashko was especially upset about the plan to sell the ladder truck to a department in Kentucky for $360,000. Although it’s rarely used, Sashko said the truck is an important piece of equipment that contains much more potentially lifesaving gear than just a tall ladder.

Dumping the truck means Mundelein firefighters will have to rely on neighboring departments in Wauconda or Libertyville to send their ladder trucks to an emergency in Mundelein, Sashko said, and the extra travel time could cost lives.

As for the proposed plan to reduce the number of lieutenants in the department to four from six, Sashko said the department is understaffed and stressed the need for a strong command staff.

Brett Clark, a Mundelein firefighter who’s the president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4786, called the proposed staffing change dangerous and ill-advised.

Village officials have said eliminating lieutenant positions will save the village money when it comes to salary and overtime costs.

Clark called the potential savings a joke.

“We do not feel safe,” said Clark, whose union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint over the issue.

In response, Mayor Steve Lentz blasted Clark’s position as a union leader. “When a union president starts talking about safety, take your hand, put it on your wallet and hold tight. Because that’s what they’re after,” Lentz said. Lentz later apologized for the comment.

The village board hadn’t yet voted on the command staff restructuring late Monday night.

thanks Scott

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Mundelein and Libertyville Fire Department news

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Mundelein and Libertyville will share a tower ladder in what officials says is a common-sense way to improve efficiency and lower costs for taxpayers in both towns.

Under terms of an agreement approved Monday by the Mundelein village board and expected to be accepted in Libertyville, the Libertyville tower ladder would be available to Mundelein for an annual fee that will offset maintenance and future replacement costs.

Mundelein’s tower ladder is not past its prime and doesn’t need replacement, but the move will provide the department and village with options, according to Deputy Chief Chief Bill Lark.

The agreement depends on Mundelein’s ability to sell, lease, or trade their ladder truck.

Under terms of the five-year pact, Mundelein would pay $14,000 for the first year with an annual increase of 3 percent thereafter. Libertyville’s truck and trained personnel would be needed about five times a year. The villages provide automatic mutual aid for structure fires through a separate 2015 agreement.

Libertyville Fire Chief Rich Carani said the villages have been talking about a number of options for about two years in an era of tight budgets and desire to make tax dollars stretch.

 Ladder trucks have fairly long life spans because they don’t drive as many miles as engines. But a new one costs $1.3 million or more.

“When looking at operational use versus cost, fuel, and associated maintenance to keep a vehicle like this operational, it makes more sense to share these types of assets,” said Eric Guenther, Mundelein’s public safety director.

Libertyville is only 2 miles farther from the Mundelein’s primary high-rise, most commercial properties and can access the east side of the village without being blocked by railroad tracks.

Libertyville’s truck is 18 years old and on a 25-year rotation to be replaced. But the village is considering refurbishing it to add up to 10 years to its life at a considerably lower cost than buying new.

thanks Ron

Tags: , , , , ,