Have Any Municipal Depts Reverted To FPD

[IllinoisFF]

Does anyone know of a full time municipal department in the state that has changed and gone back under the control of a fire protection district? Does it make it easier that there is already a district in place that is already contracting to the municipality to provide fire protection for unincorporated areas.

The proposal is, the municipality would get out of the fire protection business and contract now TO the district to supervise and manage a fire dept protecting the entire municipality.
thanks guys.

[livinlrg]

Have not heard of any full-time departments in the Chicagoland area. There was a part-time department that was disbanded (layed-off subject to recall per the village), as well as talk of another local full-time department. The trustees of the full-time department dismissed claims that they were seeking to contract fire protection from a district in lieu of their full-time union department, but at least one official stated that he explored the option. There were issues of personnel costs, which is the biggest cost of almost every department. However, the full-time municipal department still is providing service.

There can be pros and cons to these situations. For example, the part-time department that was disbanded, well the residents have experienced both a significant tax increase from the village and fire protection district, as no cost savings, if any, were passed back to the residents. This did cover a small area of unincorporated area, which was a trailer park. No significant tax base nor electoral power for this small area. There was the potential for revenue generated from ambulance billing, when able to be collected.

There appears to be a net loss of service in both towns that the district covered prior to the contract. There are financial, staffing, and equipment issues. If there are savings generated by the municipal governement, and they are passed onto the residents or true capital assets or infrastucture are enhanced this is probono. If everything remains status quo, there is no benefit to anyone, and possibly a disservice to the customers of the district{s} providing the service as well as fire protection to the municipality.

If there are departments that serve multiple municipalities that merge into one fire protection district, true costs can be realized by smoothing variable costs (supplies in bulk, elimination of overtime costs, building costs), redundancy of responses, and equipment. Most times, this may not be an option, as issues arise as to who will rule the roost. There are not many kings that wish to give up their kingdom if you know what I mean.

[GFDSlappyRob]

Have not heard of any full-time departments in the Chicagoland area. There was a part-time department that was disbanded (layed-off subject to recall per the village), as well as talk of another local full-time department. The trustees of the full-time department dismissed claims that they were seeking to contract fire protection from a district in lieu of their full-time union department, but at least one official stated that he explored the option. There were issues of personnel costs, which is the biggest cost of almost every department. However, the full-time municipal department still is providing service.

There can be pros and cons to these situations. For example, the part-time department that was disbanded, well the residents have experienced both a significant tax increase from the village and fire protection district, as no cost savings, if any, were passed back to the residents. This did cover a small area of unincorporated area, which was a trailer park. No significant tax base nor electoral power for this small area. There was the potential for revenue generated from ambulance billing, when able to be collected.

There appears to be a net loss of service in both towns that the district covered prior to the contract. There are financial, staffing, and equipment issues. If there are savings generated by the municipal governement, and they are passed onto the residents or true capital assets or infrastucture are enhanced this is probono. If everything remains status quo, there is no benefit to anyone, and possibly a disservice to the customers of the district{s} providing the service as well as fire protection to the municipality.

If there are departments that serve multiple municipalities that merge into one fire protection district, true costs can be realized by smoothing variable costs (supplies in bulk, elimination of overtime costs, building costs), redundancy of responses, and equipment. Most times, this may not be an option, as issues arise as to who will rule the roost. There are not many kings that wish to give up their kingdom if you know what I mean. quick question... was that disbanded FD Justice??? I just know someone that worked there before Roberts Park took over. I hear there's talk of bringing Justice back... :confused:

[IllinoisFF]

I'm asking because there is a Full Time dept. within 10 miles of Chicago considering reverting back to a district. The municipal dept. does now cover a small part of a remaining district. The plan is to get the municipality out of the fire business totally and pay the district entity to cover the area and manage/run the FD. not sure if it would work. I also hear there are several other depts. considering the same type of move.

[jaybird210]

This is the first time I've heard of it going iin this direction. Using it goes the other way. As a municipality grows, it annexes and eats away at a FPD, finally taking it over.

I prefer the FPD method, having worked for a Village and now a FPD (different jobs). Here's the problem that I see:

As a city resident, I pay property taxes, and shop in town, so I pay sales taxes, a portion of which goes back to the city. Part of all that taxation pays for my fire protection.

Now the city decides to sell the fire protection to a FPD. Nothing really changes much as first, except that the city is out of the fire business (generally a good thing). After a couple of years, the FPD discovers that the amount the city is paying them isn't enoguh. So they go for a refernedum. If it doesn't pass, you face layoffs, and reductions in service. The referndum passes, and now you get taxed twice.

If this change also came with a change in the tax rate for the city, in terms of a tax reduction or break, then it's a good thing. But most change developed by politicians seems not always be the best interest of the public (despite the sound bites).

[k3twpfire]

I'm asking because there is a Full Time dept. within 10 miles of Chicago considering reverting back to a district. The municipal dept. does now cover a small part of a remaining district.

Is this the same municipality that wanted to create a public safety department?

[IllinoisFF]

Yes.

Does anyone see a downside for the firefighters?

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

I am a member of a department that went from a district to a municipal department. The District could not afford to keep up with the growth of the city. We were dependent entirely on property taxes. It was a rough transition. We were very independent of the city. BUT, I am now making more money and the number of career firefighters has almost doubled. Bensenville has big problems. I am not sure if becoming an FPD would solve anything. If any established depts formed a district, it would probably have to be a merger of several departments with solid property tax bases to truly make it work.

[livinlrg]

Please note the last sentence. This may be interesting for all to watch.

Union: Fire safety at risk in Blue Island


Thursday, June 29, 2006




By Bob Rakow
Correspondent


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blue Island firefighters say low staffing levels are jeopardizing their safety and putting residents at risk.
"Today, the fire department is in a safety crisis," Ken Dompeling, president of the Blue Island Professional Firefighters Association, told the city council Tuesday.

"Due to a number of firefighters with various ailments and injuries, our already understaffed department of 21 has been reduced to only 12."

The result is only four firefighters working each 24-hour shift. Two are stationed at each of the city's two firehouses, Dompeling said.

"With four firefighters covering a town with a population of nearly 25,000, we are far below the national average for a town this size," he said.

Dompeling said firefighters are too often required to work a second 24-hour shift to fill in for colleagues who cannot work because of illness or injury.

"This can sometimes happen several days in a row," Dompeling said. "This means that some of us have had to work 48, 72 or even 96 hours in a row."

"This is not only physically daunting but mentally and emotionally draining as well, both for the firefighters working these hours and their families."

The city recently hired three probationary firefighters but they have not yet completed their training. Dompeling said the newly hired firefighters will fill vacancies created two years ago.

Dompeling said the purpose of the protest was to make aldermen aware of the staffing shortage.

Mayor Donald Peloquin asked Dompeling for recommendations to solve the problem.

"Kenny, you're negotiating a contract here, and you're asking for manpower," Peloquin said.

Dompeling said contract negotiations between the city and the union had no bearing on the protest.

"I'm not negotiating for manpower. I'm asking for safer working conditions," he said. "We wanted to deliver a message to you folks."

Some aldermen agreed the city had to resolve the staffing shortage.

"We do need to address it," Ald. Roy Cantelo said. "Two years ago you saved my life, and I cannot put a dollar on that. I'm on your side. You cannot be efficient working 96 hours straight."

"I think these guys are being worked way too hard," Ald. Gerald Hall said. "I don't care about negotiations. I think we need to have more firefighters on the job."

The Public Health and Safety Commission agreed to discuss possible solutions for the staffing shortage at its meeting July 10.

Peloquin said the formation of a fire protection district would be the best solution for the department's problems. A fire protection district would levy its own taxes and not rely on the city for funding.

Peloquin said he will propose at the next city council meeting that a referendum calling for the creation of a fire protection district be put on the November ballot.

[jaybird210]

Peloquin said the formation of a fire protection district would be the best solution for the department's problems. A fire protection district would levy its own taxes and not rely on the city for funding.

Peloquin said he will propose at the next city council meeting that a referendum calling for the creation of a fire protection district be put on the November ballot.

Sounds like the mayor is trying to cut and run. They've allowed this understaffing mess to continue to an unsafe point, and now he's trying to wash his his of it. The residents of Blue Island will be taxed twice for something they've been getting all along, and it still might not solve their problem. And he can tell the voters it was their decision, and the tax increase was the FPD district's fault, not the city. Typical.

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

The Mayor of Blue Island has been trying to get this going for a long time. I am not sure if would be truly feasible but I believe the idea of some sort of consolidation has merit. I really don't think hes trying to cut and run. He is a decent, popular, long-term Mayor. Around greater Blue Island there is a ton of mutual aid runs everyday. I think when a public official sees neighboring departments running in his town and vice-versa, the wheels start spinning. There would be some serious funding issues to the proposed district.

[sloppy182]

If I recall the mayor of Blue Island has been trying to create not only a FPD but a regional fire department for years with neighboring towns and it never seems to get off the ground. I remember reading that in the Daily Southtown more then once.

[Dobieg]

If I recall the mayor of Blue Island has been trying to create not only a FPD but a regional fire department for years with neighboring towns and it never seems to get off the ground. I remember reading that in the Daily Southtown more then once.

Yep...he was proposing a combination of the following:
Blue Island, Midlothian, Posen, Robbins, Dixmoor & Cal Park (I believe...been a while since this article).

The preliminary problems arise when only BI & Midlo are the only full-time departments...and along with Cal Park (I Think) the only departments with a collective bargaining agreement. So how do you combine 'em? All fulltime? Combination and spread folks throughout the district? Re-negotiate for the union ff's? Who provides the equipment? It was mentioned that the villages didn't have to 'give' away the equipment...but could sell it to the district.

Just a ton of questions out there....and it may be great for some of the six dept's who have less of a financial foundation...but the other departments it would only average out salaries and service...and it can only go down for them. In this age of mutual aid, hopefully the 'district' they propose exists already...just in the Box Alarm Agreements.

Probably the biggest problem is that we just don't know what would happen should anything like this ever arise...good or bad

[IllinoisFF3]

It will be happening in Bensenville if the November referendum passes.