Letter to the Editor: Peotone Fire Protection District Consolidation

To Peotone Fire Protection District Residents:

Fire districts throughout the state and the country are facing very serious staffing and resource challenges, placing their mission to keep communities safe in serious jeopardy. There is a critical shortage of available firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics, forcing departments like ours to rely on a part-time staffing model that is not as reliable as it should be. Additionally, a volatile economy and rising costs makes it increasingly difficult to safeguard long-term financial stability.

The Peotone Fire Protection District is certainly not immune to these industry-wide challenges. One solution is to pursue a consolidation with a partnering district that can deliver a more reliable staffing plan and pave the way for financial stability during the long term. When we have those two under control, we are far better equipped to deliver on our promise to keep you and your families as safe as they can be.

On June 28, voters in Peotone will get to decide if consolidating with the Manhattan Fire Protection District is in the best interest of our community.

During the past several months, we have provided Peotone residents with ample information about the potential consolidation of our district with Manhattan’s. We’ve posted factual information online and have held events to give residents an opportunity to learn about the issues and ask questions. Now, we’d just like to provide a very basic summary of what consolidation will do for our community today and for decades to come.

If a consolidation is approved by Peotone voters, we will be able to address the staffing and financial challenges so that we can do the job you expect us to do. Together, we will be able to hire nine full-time firefighter/EMS personnel, which will make our consolidated fire district better able to respond to your needs quickly and more effectively. A consolidation will place your fire protection district on more solid financial footing for years to come. Additionally, a consolidation will be tax efficient.

If voters do not approve a consolidation, the district will struggle with managing an unreliable and outdated part-time staffing model that will, over time, place residents in need of lifesaving and emergency medical care at risk. Response times likely will rise due to our inability to keep up with regional growth and increasing calls for service. Your tax rate is not likely to decrease and may, in fact, increase over time, meaning you may be forced to pay more for less service over the long-term.

Residents of Peotone deserve and expect critical public safety, fire, rescue, and emergency medical services be delivered effectively, promptly, professionally, and affordably. We urge you to vote on June 28.

Sincerely,

Peotone Fire Protection District

Board of Trustees