Story posted Friday, May 29, 2009
Transfer Aims To Clear Up Fire Call Confusion
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
Mt. Prospect officials Tuesday requested village staff move forward with transferring a portion of the Forest River Fire Protection District to the Prospect Hts. Fire District.
The Forest River fire district is bounded by Seminole Lane, Mandel Lane, Camp McDonald Road and Wolf Road. The district straddles the village's northeast border with Prospect Hts.
By transferring over its portion of the district, the village hopes to clear up confusion as to which fire department---Prospect Hts. or Mt. Prospect---should provide emergency response to the area.
Addresses along Wolf and Camp McDonald include a mix of Mt. Prospect and Prospect Hts. residences. Emergency responses can be confusing to the caller, dispatcher, and responding department, village officials say, adding that oftentimes actual jurisdiction cannot be determined until emergency response vehicles arrive on the scene.
Annual generated tax dollars associated with the 79 Forest River district properties will help support mutual aid the village currently receives from the Prospect Hts. Fire District.
According to Village Manager Michael Janonis, the village receives approximately $50,000 annually from Forest River Fire Protection District residents for emergency services. A transfer to the Prospect Hts. Fire District would reduce revenue to the village by $10,000.
Mt. Prospect Fire Chief Mike Figolah said approximately two years ago, Prospect Hts. was willing to provide first due ambulance service to the area now in question to help reduce the village's long emergency response times. That agreement allowed Prospect Hts. to bill Mt. Prospect residents when they respond to an estimated 100 emergency incidents annually. The benefit to Prospect Hts. was additional revenue.
Figolah said over the past two years, that arrangement has been beneficial to Mt. Prospect, but Prospect Hts. has not received the expected revenue. Prospect Hts. has only been able to collect ambulance fees from about 78% of the incidents they respond to while their dispatch agency charges $55 every time Prospect Hts. is dispatched into Mt. Prospect.
In 1971, the village decided to pursue annexation of a majority of the area referred to as the Forest River Fire Protection District. The village decided not to pursue annexation in the area now in question in addition to an area bounded by Kensington Road, River Road, Gregory Street, and the Canadian National Railroad tracks.
As a result of the village's 1971 annexation, the Circuit Court of Cook County stipulated the Forest River Fire Protection District continue to levee taxes at the maximum rate authorized by state statute. Those funds were required to be given to Mt. Prospect as payment for emergency response services.
"The attorneys will look to see if there are any issues and then it becomes mechanical," said Janonis. "Those homes from the Forest River fire district will be disconnected and annexed into the Prospect Hts. Fire District."
Janonis said Prospect Hts. Fire District will incur all legal fees. Mt. Prospect may have to pay for one court appearance.
"We are willing to move forward and look at the request," said Mayor Irvana Wilks.
Janonis said legalities should take approximately six months to complete. This issue is expected to be brought back to the board for an approval later this year.
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