Woodstock Fire Rescue District news
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From excerpts sourced from NorthwestHerald.com:
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In a recent development, the Woodstock Fire Rescue District faces significant adjustments following the decision by the village of Lakewood not to renew their existing contract. According to Woodstock Fire Chief Ralph Webster, this marks a substantial shift for the district. For the past five years, Woodstock had been responsible for staffing Lakewood's sole fire station located on Haligus Road, but the closure of this station is now inevitable.
Webster emphasized that there are currently 12 employees dedicated to this station, and while he is actively developing a strategy to retain as many of these firefighters as feasible, it seems inevitable that some layoffs will occur. "There's going to have to be some change," Webster stated. "This could involve cutting back on hours across the board or eliminating certain positions entirely."
The decision by the Lakewood Village Board came down to a vote of 3-1, with one trustee abstaining. They chose to opt for a marginally less expensive contract offered by the Crystal Lake Fire Department. This new arrangement ties cost increases to the village's tax base, making it more financially appealing in the long term.
Under the previous contract with Woodstock, the annual cost would have been $750,000, with a yearly 1.5% increase over the next four years. Additionally, the village would contribute $25,000 annually toward equipment purchases. In contrast, the Crystal Lake Fire Department will maintain operations at their Bard Road station, currently staffed by four to five personnel. Their initial service charge is estimated at around $744,000, calculated using the tax rate of the Crystal Lake Rural Fire Protection District applied to Lakewood's property taxes. This figure serves as the baseline for subsequent payments over the course of the ten-year agreement, which allows for four five-year renewal periods.
Chief Webster plans to present his proposed action plan to the Woodstock Fire Rescue District Board of Trustees early next year, with any necessary changes expected to take effect in February.
For Lakewood, this change signifies more than just a shift in fire service providers; it also means they won't need to invest in constructing a new fire station in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the village can liquidate its current fire equipment and settle any outstanding loans related to these assets, as noted by Lakewood Village Manager Catherine Peterson in a prior memo to the board.
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This situation highlights the complex financial and logistical decisions communities must navigate when managing essential public services like firefighting. It remains to be seen how these changes will impact both the Woodstock Fire Rescue District and the broader community of Lakewood moving forward.