This from Tony Carlini:
Here is the drawing of a new order for the Pingree grove and Countryside Fire Protection District
Spartan EMFD cab- Marion Body Works custom rescue pumper with 1,000 gallons of water, a 1500-GPM Waterous pump, full depth rescue compartments on the officers’ side and split depth on the driver’s side
click to download
Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
A motion to place a bond referendum question for the Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire District on the April election ballot — for what would have been the fourth time — failed after the board was deadlocked and the trustee who could have cast the deciding vote was absent.
One trustee attempted to attend the Thursday meeting via phone because he’s in a rehabilitation facility. On the phone, he repeatedly said he supported placing the referendum question on the ballot, but after about half an hour — and before the board took a vote — he had to go because he wasn’t feeling well.
The plan on the table Thursday, proposed by Fire Chief Mitch Crocetti, was to ask voters to borrow $7.5 million to replace two of the district’s three fire stations. The district also would have used $2.6 million in reserves and any proceeds from selling the old stations. Voters previously rejected requests to borrow $8.5 million in November 2018, March 2018 and April 2017.
The plan has been to sell Station 2 on Rippburger Road and Station 4 on Plank Road and build new stations on Highland Avenue just east of Coombs Road and on Dittman Road about one-third mile south of Plato Road. The land on Dittman Road was purchased last year.
However, last month an estimate showed higher-than-anticipated costs, with building and site work for the Dittman Road station up to at least $10.85 million according to a second opinion.
The chief consulted with officials from the South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District who told him that bids for two new fire stations planned in that district are coming in under $10 million.
Some speculated the higher cost could be because South Elgin has municipal water, not well water like Pingree Grove, or due to differences in proposed building height.
Another referendum question could go on the ballot no earlier than the spring 2020 election. The board rejected the chief’s proposal last year to obtain architectural plans before the referendum. He plans to pursue that again in order to narrow down precise costs.
Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
The board of the Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire District delayed a vote on placing a referendum question on the April election ballot to hear details regarding a cost analysis and alternate proposal by one trustee. Trustee Todd Harris said an architectural/engineering estimate he obtained on his own shows construction costs would exceed the projected amount by several million dollars. He favors an alternate plan of building only one new station, on Dittman Road, and remodeling Station 4 on Plank Road asking to delay the vote until a special meeting can be held sometime the second week of January, and the board agreed. Jan. 14 is the deadline for local governments to adopt resolutions regarding binding referendum questions.
The plan would be to close and sell Station 2 on Rippburger Road and Station 4 on Plank Road, and build new stations on Highland Avenue just east of Coombs Road, and on Dittman Road about one-third mile south of Plato Road. The land on Dittman Road was purchased earlier this year.
Voters rejected a request in November to approve borrowing $8.5 million to replace two of the district’s three fire stations. Voters also said no in March 2018 and April 2017.
The board was scheduled to discuss Tuesday night placing the referendum question on the April 2 ballot with a lower amount of $6.5 million, with the rest of the money, or $2 million, coming from reserves, Fire Chief Mitch Crocetti said.
Crocetti and board members supportive of the original plan say it’s about optimal locations for fire stations based on response times, increase in calls for service, and population growth. The chief said there are inaccuracies in the estimate obtained by Harris, such as the acreage needed for one of the new fire stations.
Board President John Payson said his main objection to keeping Station 4 in its current location is that it will be poorly positioned to serve district residents, particularly as Elgin continues to build westward.
The district, which has a $3.6 million budget, currently employs five full-time firefighters/paramedics and 38 on-call or part-time firefighters. Several firefighters left this year, many to take full-time positions, and they are recruiting to replace open positions.
Excerpts from the dailyherald.com:
For the third consecutive time voters rejected a request from the Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire District to approve borrowing $8.5 million to replace two of its three fire stations. Voters cast 2,910 no votes and 2,519 yes votes with all precincts reporting Tuesday, according to unofficial results.
The locations for the stations would have yielded better response times, particularly as the district grows, Fire Chief Mitch Crocetti said.
The district had already purchased land on Dittman Road to build one of the stations.
Apr 5
Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
A majority of voters said no to two new fire stations in a referendum question in Tuesday’s election asking permission to borrow $8.5 million for construction in the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District.
There were 859 “no” votes and 608 “yes” votes, with all 16 precincts reporting in Kane County, according to unofficial results.
Fire Chief Mitch Crocetti said the district wanted to be better positioned geographically to reduce response times for an increasing population. The district has three fire stations, one of which — Station 4 on Plank Road — would have been closed and sold if the two new ones were built.
The 20-year property tax increase would have amounted to about $117 per year for a house valued at $300,000.
The 50-square-mile district serves about 15,000 residents in Pingree Grove, the northern end of Campton Hills, and unincorporated areas.
The two new fire stations would have been built in the vicinity of Plato and Rippburger roads, and on Highland Avenue just east of Coombs Road.
thanks Dan
Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
The Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District will have a referendum on the ballot April 4 asking voters permission to borrow $8.5 million to build two new fire stations.
The goal is to be better positioned geographically to reduce response times for an increasing population, Fire Chief Mitch Crocetti said.
The district has three fire stations, one of which — Station 4 on Plank Road — would be closed and sold if the two new ones are built.
The district would repay the bonds with $2 million out of its general fund and $6.5 million with a 20-year property tax increase that would amount to about $117 per year for a house valued at $300,000.
The 50-square-mile district serves about 15,000 residents in Pingree Grove, the northern end of Campton Hills, and unincorporated areas.
Pingree Grove officials said it has added about 300 new housing units per year the last several years.
The two new fire stations would be built in the vicinity of Plato and Rippburger roads, and on Highland Avenue just east of Coombs Road. The locations were picked based on the largest population centers within the fire district boundaries, which originally were set in 1957 and later extended east.
“For us to get to the far southwest part of our distinct, south of Burlington Road toward McDonald Road, it takes about 11 or 12 minutes on a good day, without snow or other conditions,” he said. “(With the new stations), we are shooting for an average response time of six minutes. That’s the standard for EMS (emergency medical services).”
This would be the first bond issue for the district, which employs 54 firefighters who responded to 1,090 calls last year. Its annual budget is about $3 million per year; the district saved up for nine years and paid cash to build the fire station that opened in 2015.
Its newest fire station was built in 2015, replacing Station 1 that was sold for about $160,000 to Anchor Spa & Pool Inc..
If voters approve the April 4 referendum question, the new property tax would show up on tax bills in June 2018.
Crocetti said the district’s assessed property value has grown steadily the last three or four years. If that continues, the added property tax might be lower than $117.
Excerpts from theChicagoTribune.com:
On Saturday, residents joined firefighters from the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District at an open house to celebrate its new, state-of-the-art facility at 1600 Reinking Road. The 12,700-square-foot fire station cost $3.7 million. It has a lobby that is open 24 hours a day; a community room that can be reserved by residents and non-profit organizations; a decontamination space; a house tower; a fitness facility; a kitchen; a rec room; and sleeping quarters.
“We wanted to let the community know that we are here,” said Lieutenant Scott Fehrman, a 33-year veteran of the district.
The Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District services unincorporated Kane County, an area less than 50 square miles that includes: Plato Township and parts of Rutland, Campton and Elgin Townships, Fehrman said. The new station will replace Fire House #2 at Route 20 and Reinking Road, an outdated, more than half a century’s old facility that only held vehicles. Originally run by volunteer firefighters, it didn’t have a kitchen or place to sleep.
It became even more evident a new station was needed when call volume began to increase with the 2005 opening of the Cambridge Lakes Subdivision and, two years later, Carillon, a gated retirement community, Fehrman said.
About 10 years ago, the fire district began setting aside money each year for the new facility, Trustee Todd Harris said, noting that it’s fully paid for now.
Fire Station #3 will offer residents CPR classes, free blood pressure screenings, and, for citizens with medical conditions or the inability to reach the front door quickly, the Knox Box Rapid Entry System, Fehrman said. Attached to homes, the secure black boxes contain house keys and medical information, and allow firefighters to gain entrance into residences quickly, without damaging property. The boxes can only be accessed by firefighters with a master key.
Looking back on the district’s history, Harris said that in 1936, the area was served by a volunteer fire department. Firefighters received calls at home and stopped by the station for equipment, taking from 8 to 15 minutes to arrive at the scene. He said the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District wasn’t founded until 1957, with ambulance service added in 1975. Today, the district operates two fire stations — the new one and an existing location at Plank Road and Route 20 — each staffed with three firefighter EMTs, Fehrman said. Unlike the old days, he said firefighters can arrive at the scene within minutes.
thanks Dan
This from John Tulipano:
Pingree Grove FPD new station 3 being built on Reinking Road just north of Route 72
John Tulipano photo
John Tulipano photo
John Tulipano photo
Nov 11
This from Josh Boyajian:
East Dundee – Ordered a Spartan Metro Star pumper 1500/500 from Alexis
Pingree Grove & Countryside – A 2015 Ferrara rescue pumper on a Cinder cab & chassis 1500/750
Huntley FPD – A 2015 Pierce Enforcer pumper 1500/750
Itasca FPD – A 2015 Pierce Velocity pumper 1500/750
Palatine – A 2015 Ferrara rescue pumper on an Igniter cab & chassis 1500/750
Rockford – (2) Pierce Saber PUC pumper 1500/750/30
Mount Prospect – A 2014 Pierce Quantum engine 1500/500
South Elgin had a house fire on Thursday at 10N917 Gale Street in Elgin Township (Kane County). The fire was apparently blamed on a bird’s nest which ignited and sent fire into the attic of the home. It was a 15-degree day that felt like 5 degrees with the wind.
Scott Peterson submitted several shots from the scene after the fire was brought under control.
A view from the front of the one-story house at 10N917 Gayle Street in unincorporated Kane County. Scott Peterson photo
Firefighters work on the roof of the house after the fire was knocked down. Multiple attics required several vent holes. Scott Peterson photo
This shot from the rear shows the extent of the attic fire. Scott Peterson photo
From The Courier-News:
According to preliminary reports, firefighters were called to the home just after 9:30 a.m. by the home’s two occupants. Firefighters found fire in a wall and a deep-seated fire in the attic, with flames coming out of windows on both sides of the structure. Reports stated that the home actually had multiple attic units as a result of remodeling projects and the fire had spread among them.
The Courier-News has an article about the fire HERE.
Departments that responded to provide mutual aid included Elgin, Pingree Grove, Elburn, Bartlett, Hanover Park, and West Dundee.
South Elgin’s new Spartan/Crimson mid-mount tower ladder staged at the fire. Scott Peterson photo
Elburn Tender 307, a 3000-gallon pumper/tanker built by Alexis on a 1988 Peterbilt chassis was also on the scene. Scott Peterson photo
Elgin Engine 4 was on a hydrant down the street from the fire. Scott Peterson photo
Pingree Grove responded to the fire with this tandem-axle pumper/tanker on a Spartan Gladiator chassis. Scott Peterson photo
South Elgin had two engines, a tower, and a tanker on the scene. Here is Engine 1, a Spartan/Crimson parked down the street. Scott Peterson photo
For the finest department portraits and composites contact Tim Olk or Larry Shapiro.
