The Manhattan Fire Protection District, through collaborative efforts with Laraway Communications Center and neighboring agencies, has improved its total response times thanks to a comprehensive training program.
“For the first time since we’ve been doing this program, with all the work we’ve done with LCC, they hit their mark of one minute and four seconds for call processing time, which is awesome,” Deputy Chief Dave Piper reported.
The district has been working with LCC and all their trainers and telecommunicators, along with the other agencies dispatched by LCC, to conduct monthly training across all shifts. Each monthly training focuses on a different department.
This helps facilitate understanding and training from each other’s perspective, so everyone can work together to provide the best services across the board.
“It’s truly been a group effort,” Piper said of the training and the results.
Piper advised the board that when they first started working with LCC, call handling times were over three minutes and 30 seconds. They’ve cut off over two and a half minutes of call time.
“LCC has been working very hard at meeting all of those standards,” Piper added.
Push-out time, or the time it takes the crews to hear the call, get into the rig, and depart, is “phenomenal,” Piper reported, which is another highlight.
Travel times are still a limiting factor, but the district is hopeful the new Station 81 location will help improve travel time.
Piper reported the overall “hello to hello” time is sitting right at 10 minutes and 33 seconds for the 90th percentile, which is a marked improvement.
Fire District Financial News
The district held its budget and appropriations hearing, of which the budget was reviewed last month. No residents were present. The board subsequently approved its budget, tax levy, and tax abatement related to the general obligation bonds issued to build the new fire station.
District Accountant James Howard reviewed the treasurer’s report, indicating the district received reimbursement funding for the Station 83 remodel in the amount of $250,000.
Trustee Larry Goodwin asked why revenues were up so much, and Howard and Chief Steve Malone explained it was a combination of factors: The district received reimbursement for the ARPA grant, and tax and ambulance collections are up.
Expenditures are slightly higher than usual due to unforeseen transmission maintenance and a pick-up truck needing work.
Malone reported IPRF workman’s compensation insurance was up for renewal. He explained everyone has been hit with high increases on the renewals. The renewal cost last year was $265,000, and is now $320,000 this year. The cost increase elicited audible groans from the board, but was ultimately approved.
Other insurances the district is required to carry have also gone up; Malone noted he is aware of other agencies that experienced a 40 percent increase, whereas MFPD had a 16 percent increase. While it is a big jump, it’s not as bad as others.
Malone explained they will shop around for insurance next year, and he has already been in touch with their broker.
SWOT Analysis in Progress, Standard of Cover Complete
Malone reported the district held three separate feedback meetings: One at Station 83, which resulted in about five attendees; one at Station 81, which had one person show up; and another one held at the Hansen Community Center, with refreshments, but it also yielded only one attendee.
The online survey is doing much better, with more than 25 surveys completed. The internal SWOT analysis was completed in September. The SWOT analysis is the last step in developing the district’s strategic plan.
The goal is to complete the SWOT analysis during the first quarter of next year. The district’s Standard of Cover, which analyzes five years of data, is complete, and a hard copy was given to the board members.
New Fire Station Updates
Construction on Manhattan’s new fire station is moving along, with precast walls installed and slabs poured. They are working on some tie-ins with electric, but those improvements are on ComEd’s schedule. Final grading for the pond and swale is anticipated to be completed and seed-blanketed before winter weather arrives.
Fleet and Maintenance Updates
The district’s fleet and maintenance program is working as it should. One of the district’s ambulances will need some repair after a minor incident when a semi rear-ended the ambulance. Battalion Chief Bruce Boyle explained, “it wasn’t heavy damage,” and said the semi kind of “tapped the back of the ambulance,” which did result in some body damage.
The bumper was repaired within a day, but body work will be completed when ambulance 83, which was significantly damaged in an accident last year, is back in service. He credited the great relationship with their solid service center for the speedy repair. It is expected to be back in service by the end of next month.
The brush trucks should be in by the end of 2026, and the district currently is installing TPMS in its fleet. The tire valve stems and cores are not holding up to the regular checks the district conducts, resulting in bent valves and broken valve stems. The problem would be alleviated with the TPMS installation.
“The old-school checking the tires once a day is really counter-productive,” Boyle added.
“We’re trying to be proactive and trying to understand the culture of the employees and provide them the tools to be successful,” Boyle said.
The district also is completing its HVAC maintenance.
“The maintenance programs are doing their job; we’re identifying motors as they’re failing, not when they fail,” Boyle added.
Other News
The memorial plaque for Trustee Bill Osborne is complete and has been installed at Station 83. In the spring, the district intends to hold a plaque presentation and a memorial event.
Deputy Chief Piper reported year-to-date incident calls are still about 3 percent below last year, though he noted that tornadoes from the past are still skewing the numbers a bit. Accidents and ambulance calls still make up the majority of the district’s calls, with Stations 81 and 83 going back and forth for the most calls each month.
In October, Station 81 (in Manhattan) handled 105 calls, Station 82 (in Wilton Center) had 11, and Station 83 (in Peotone) had 95.
Public Education efforts still are going strong. Fire and Life Safety Educator Jackie O’Hara’s report indicated there were 4,247 community contacts and 25 outreach and education opportunities offered and provided.
Fire Marshal Dave Kolosh reported they have issued 16 permits. The Village of Peotone will be passing its codes, with the Village of Manhattan passing theirs afterwards. He is working to ensure fees are comparable to neighboring villages.
The fire district also continues its work with Earthrise as they are nearing the submission of their application.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter