Fire Chief Steve Malone reported he spent some time in Springfield with legislators regarding fire service-related legislation and indicated he anticipates changes to problematic intersections within the district.
Malone indicated he had been talking with state Sen. Patrick Joyce, regarding much-needed safety improvements at several intersections.
“I believe a lot of our intersections are going to be addressed here relatively soon,” Malone said
Joyce issued a statement on April 16 indicating a bill he had been working on, SB3275, had passed.
“The bill would require the Illinois Department of Transportation, in consultation with local agencies, to identify and conduct a road safety assessment of the 10 most hazardous state-controlled intersections in Will County located south of I-80. The legislation would address delays faced by municipalities and counties in the 40th District, when seeking IDOT review,” Joyce’s statement said.
There are a number of sites within the 145-square-mile fire district that are the scene of repeated serious accidents, often requiring extrication, and some resulting in fatalities.
Also on the agenda was a Community Benefits Agreement and Tax Abatement with solar developer Earthrise, which Malone advised the board had been approved last year, but with the changes made, it was important for the board to have the opportunity to review it and vote on it again.
Trustee Brian Hupe asked what would happen if Earthrise is voted down or, for some reason, doesn’t come to fruition.
“So, no pushback — we get the money and don’t have to pay it back if it falls apart? It’s a win-win, as long as it doesn’t fall back on us,” Hupe said.
Attorney John Motylinski and Malone explained that, due to state legislation and the results of lawsuits stemming from previous denials by the county board, it would be unlikely a denial or a no-build situation could occur. The county is required to approve the solar projects, despite what local authorities may or may not want.
The fire district would not be “on the hook” for anything, and the CBA provides agreed-upon funding upfront, which Malone advised was $2 million within the calendar year, with the remaining revenues distributed at 5 percent.
District Accountant James Howard reviewed the three months ending March 31.
“We know it’s a capital-intensive year with the station build,” Howard said of the budget.
Malone advised the board the district made its last payment on Rescue Engine 83, also indicating a positive financial position.
Also, with regard to finances, Malone reported the district has chosen a new phone vendor, which will result in approximately $150 in savings each month. Additionally, they have been vetting IT companies to try to save money, while getting better service. Malone said they are wrapping up a deal with VC3 managed IT services, which he estimated the district should save $3,000 each month, and added the new vendor has more qualifications.
Deputy Chief Dave Piper gave his monthly report on staffing, training, and call data within the district. Staffing is stable, and training remains a priority.
Call data indicated the district primarily responds to EMS and car accidents, though there were two structural fires in the district.
He reported the district is in the process of moving from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), so some data may be skewed as the reporting isn’t identical.
Piper also indicated being part of a couple of meetings to discuss upcoming changes in the hospital system, as the hospital in Olympia Fields is now officially part of the Prime Healthcare network. Additionally, Franciscan Health Dyer will be transitioning to a behavioral health hospital, which Piper explained would likely shift some of that patient load west.
Battalion Chief Bruce Boyle indicated the fleet is looking good, with no vehicles out of service. They are anticipating two brush trucks sometime this year. Ambulance 81, which had been in an accident, is back in service. The district will send the next ambulance for refurbishing by the end of September.
Construction on the new fire station is “moving along nicely,” Boyle reported. However, some delays with NICOR and ComEd may affect the construction timeline.
Fire Marshal Dave Kolosh said he and Fire and Life Safety Educator Jackie Palkovitz attended an industry conference, each learning new skills. Kolosh advised he met with Marc Nelson with the Village of Manhattan, hoping to streamline processes and stay involved with new development, so when things are sent to B&F Construction Code Services they also will be included.
Kolosh also reports he’s been working with both villages and the township on getting more knox boxes for businesses.
In other news, Malone reported the annual banquet was a success, and they received many compliments on the event.