The Roberts Park Fire Protection District plans to open a community survey the week of Nov. 16, after three informational sessions where residents could learn about the district’s needs, ask questions and share what matters to them.
Survey details will be posted on the district’s social media pages and at RPFPD.org.
The district covers Justice and Hickory Hills.
The first session was held Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Station 1, 8611 S. Roberts Road, Justice. A senior session followed Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Station 2, 7800 S. Archer Road, Justice. The third ran that evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., also at Station 2.
The district ran more than 4,800 calls last year, Fire Chief Christopher Spoo said. Its call volume has increased significantly over the past decade, and per station, that makes it one of the busiest departments around, he said.
“Though we are busier than ever, costs of everything are rising too,” Spoo said.
Staffing, equipment and fire apparatus all cost more, Spoo said. A new tower ladder would cost $2.2 million if the district had to buy one now, he said: “the price of a mansion rolling down the street.”
“It’s even hard for me to believe that that’s the current cost of those vehicles,” he said.
Spoo said the district’s facilities could also use some sprucing up.
The sessions were aimed at adults, though children were welcome, Spoo said. Residents could meet crews, tour the stations and see the trucks and equipment. Without that, Spoo said, residents encounter firefighters only in a crisis.
“They only see us on the worst day of their life when they call 911,” he said.
Hiring is another strain. “It’s difficult to find firefighter paramedics,” Spoo said, adding that “everybody is fighting for the same people, and it’s a pretty small pool.”
He said a paramedic program Moraine Valley Community College started will help train more paramedics for open positions. The district has lost full-time employees to other departments over the last three years, Spoo said, as people left for better pay or a better fit.
“Our costs are growing faster than our revenue,” he said.
Most of the district’s money comes from property taxes, Spoo said. The district gets no sales tax, video gaming or liquor revenue. Property taxes and ambulance billing are its two biggest revenue sources, with property taxes the primary one.
Asked whether a referendum is planned, Spoo said, “No formal decision has been made.”
A group of residents, called the facilitating team, has been meeting since September to gauge whether the community would support a referendum if the district pursued one, Spoo said. That work led to the information sessions.
The team will present its findings to the district’s Board of Trustees and make a recommendation, Spoo said. That recommendation could be a referendum or could be to stay the course. The board has not voted on anything, Spoo said, and will decide how to proceed after the presentation.
