THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2008
Village May Share Emergency Services With DP
By TODD WESSELL
Journal & Topics Editor
As Des Plaines officials prepare to approve plans to spend millions of dollars to build two new fire stations, a ray of hope has emerged that could lessen the financial burden and reduce the city's anticipated long-term debt.
Sixth ward Ald. Mark Walsten, who represents the city's south side, and Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens met in Rosemont Village Hall last week to discuss the possibility of the two communities sharing emergency protection services. According to Walsten, Stephens was "very receptive" to the idea. It was agreed that fire and administrative staffs of Des Plaines and Rosemont meet in the future to discuss the idea.
For the last several years, Des Plaines has been wrestling with the issue of increasing its firefighting and paramedic service capability city-wide. Aldermen recently approved a plan to build a new fire headquarters on Central Road located on the city's far northern border. Generally speaking, council members have accepted a proposal to build a second new fire station either in the vicinity of Prospect and Mannheim roads or Prospect Lane and Lee Street, which is located south of Oakton and Lee. A final decision on where the second new station will be located has not yet been made.
The cost of building two new firehouses will total millions of dollars. That combined with the likelihood that a new police headquarters will also soon be built would saddle the city with substantial debt over the next 20 or more years. The total cost for two new fire stations and a police headquarters could hit $80 million.
Last year, aldermen approved a 2008 budget that called for several new fees and taxes in large part to generate enough money to pay for new public safety buildings.
Walsten said should Des Plaines and Rosemont reach an agreement to share firefighting facilities, it could save local taxpayers a huge amount of money because a second new station may not have to be built. Rosemont currently operates a fire station on the south side of Higgins Road between Mannheim and Devon avenues. Across the street lies Des Plaines.
Des Plaines officials in the past have said that attempts to work with Rosemont about sharing fire facilities and personnel have been met with resistance by Rosemont. However, it appears that Brad Stephens, who became mayor of Rosemont when his father, Donald, died last April, is open to the idea of working with Des Plaines on this matter.
"They have a station there, so I thought it would be a good idea to pursue it," said Walsten yesterday (Tuesday). He added that no specific date has been set when the two communities can meet. Walsten said he has discussed the idea with City Manager Jason Bajor.