Excerpts from the Daily Herald:
A proposed ballot question in Warrenville could change how fire protection district trustees are selected, potentially affecting future consolidation efforts in DuPage County. The issue will be decided by voters on April 7, when they will choose whether to elect or appoint the three members of the board that oversees the district.
Currently, the board members are appointed by the DuPage County Board Chairman. William Mennell, a resident and president of the fire protection district board, is one of the organizers behind the initiative. He collected over 1,600 signatures to get the question on the ballot, arguing that citizens should have more say in who manages their local services.
"We as citizens have very little input into who our district trustees would be," Mennell said. "The people should be able to pick who is spending their money." Despite his position on the board, he emphasized that the push for the ballot question comes from residents, not from the board itself.
In 2012, a consulting firm hired by the county recommended that DuPage partner with fire protection districts to explore consolidation options. Warrenville was among those considered, but the firm found it to be financially stable and well-managed.
Mennell said the district already provides high-quality fire and ambulance services and doesn’t need to merge with others. "Consolidation may help in some cases," he said. "Our theory here in Warrenville is that bigger is not better."
However, DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, who has been praised by Governor Bruce Rauner for his work on consolidation, questions the motives behind the ballot initiative. He said the county has been pushing for greater transparency and accountability within the fire protection district.
"It’s no secret they have really resisted that," Cronin said. He noted that while the board adopted the county’s ethics policy, it refused to sign an intergovernmental agreement that would make the policy enforceable.
Cronin also mentioned that the county has repeatedly encouraged the district to join the West Suburban Fire/Rescue Alliance, which aims to improve emergency response times and share resources. But so far, Warrenville has shown no interest, according to Cronin.
"They just want to have their own little empire," he said. "It doesn’t matter to me whether or not they (trustees) are appointed or elected, just as long as the district is a model of efficiency and safety."
Mennell countered that the district already collaborates with other departments to share equipment and services. Kate Perkins, a former trustee working to support the ballot question, added that Warrenville needs a voice in any future consolidation plans.
"And we won’t if we have appointed trustees. They’ll answer to Dan Cronin, because he’s the one who hires and fires them," she said.
Thanks Dan and John
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