BY BRIDGET THORESON
Journal Times | Posted: Monday, January 21, 2008 12:00 am
STURTEVANT - Sturtevant trustees Tuesday will weigh in on a proposal suggesting the village should combine its fire department with Mount Pleasant's to improve fire and emergency medical service and reduce costs.
"It's a question of how we want to spend our money and what the village trustees think is the best way to serve the village residents and offer fire protection," said Mark Janiuk, village administrator. "Sturtevant residents should follow this because it will have an impact on their village, it will have an impact on their taxes."
The proposal, from McGrath Consulting Group Inc. in Wonder Lake, Ill., was authorized to be conducted by both villages in May and presented to them last month.
Under the proposal, Mount Pleasant would pay about 80 percent of the consolidated department's operational budget, and Sturtevant would pay almost 20 percent. Sturtevant would build up the percentage of its contribution over a three-year phase-in period.
No jobs would be lost under the proposal, and new positions would be added.
For 2008, the cost for Mount Pleasant would be about $5.3 million and Sturtevant would contribute $1 million. If the villages decide not to consolidate, the consultants estimate Sturtevant's 2008 fire department budget would be almost $2 million, largely because of a need for more personnel.
The proposal also recommends:
- Locating the headquarters at Sturtevant's fire station, after renovations
- Relocating the fire station at 3809 Sheridan Road in Mount Pleasant to Meacham Road, south of Taylor Avenue
- Creating an Oversight Board with representatives from each village to oversee policy and fiscal issues for the department
- Renaming the fire department to South Shore Fire & Rescue Department
- Having Sturtevant absorb the $24,900 debt of its department's labor union
- Naming the Mount Pleasant fire chief as chief of the new department
Tuesday's Committee of the Whole meeting is intended for the trustees to discuss the positives and negatives of the proposal and other options for the village, according to Janiuk.
There will not be a formal decision about pursuing consolidation.
The Mount Pleasant board is waiting for Sturtevant's response before they make any decisions, according to Village Administrator Mike Andreasen.