Excerpts from the Daily Herald:
A ballot initiative in Warrenville could determine whether the Fire Protection District's board members are elected or appointed, and this decision may impact future consolidation efforts in DuPage County.
Voters will have their say on April 7 regarding the selection of trustees who oversee the fire protection district. Currently, the three board members are appointed by the DuPage County Board Chairman.
"As citizens, we have very little influence over who our district trustees are," said William Mennell, a resident who collected over 1,600 signatures to bring the issue to the ballot. "The people should be able to choose who is managing their money." Mennell, who is also the president of the fire protection district board, emphasized that the push for the ballot question comes from residents, not the board itself.
In 2012, a county-contracted consulting firm examined potential consolidations among fire protection districts, with Warrenville among those considered. However, the firm found the district to be financially stable and capable of providing high-quality fire and ambulance services without the need for consolidation.
Mennell argued that "bigger isn't always better" and that Warrenville doesn’t need to merge with other districts. He believes the current system is effective and that the community should have more control over local governance.
However, DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, who has been praised by Governor Bruce Rauner for his consolidation work, questions the motives behind the ballot initiative. He claims that the fire protection district has resisted efforts to increase transparency and accountability.
Cronin noted that while the district adopted the county’s ethics policy, it refused to sign an intergovernmental agreement that would make the policy enforceable. He also mentioned that the district has turned down multiple invitations to join the West Suburban Fire/Rescue Alliance, which aims to improve emergency response times and share resources.
"They just want to run their own little empire," Cronin said. "It doesn’t matter to me if they're elected or appointed, as long as they’re efficient and safe."
Mennell, however, insists that the district already collaborates with other fire departments to share equipment and services. Kate Perkins, a former trustee supporting the ballot measure, added that Warrenville needs a voice in any future consolidation plans. "If we have appointed trustees, they’ll answer to Dan Cronin, because he’s the one who hires and fires them," she said.
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