DeKalb County rural fire departments to pay for dispatch services

Excerpts from the DailyChronicle.com:

For years, DeKalb County’s 10 rural fire departments have relied on free dispatching services provided by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division, a service that has been in place since the 911 system was established.

But this arrangement is about to change. For months, Sheriff Roger Scott and other county officials have been working on implementing a new fee structure for the smaller fire departments.

Only Cortland and Kirkland have not yet agreed to or paid the new fees, which has caused some frustration among local leaders. Frank Ottengheime, the longtime chief of the Shabbona Fire Department, expressed his concerns.

“We pay taxes, we pay on our phone bills, and even on our cellular plans,” Ottengheime said. “We don’t understand why we should be taxed again for the same service.”

With over 40 years of service with the all-volunteer department, Ottengheime emphasized that the fire department sees dispatching as an essential public service that should remain accessible to all.

While the county is currently looking to cut costs, Sheriff Scott clarified that budget constraints were not the main reason for the change. Instead, it was the rural police departments that suggested the fire agencies contribute financially.

“Rural police departments have been paying for years, and they proposed that fire departments also chip in,” Scott explained. “This idea was brought to the Law and Justice Committee back in 2015, and they pushed for a revised plan that included fire departments.”

According to county documents, the rural fire agencies will now pay around $26,000 for dispatching services this fiscal year, with the amount increasing to about $30,000 by 2021.

In comparison, the eight rural police departments – including Cortland, Hinckley, Kingston, Kirkland, Malta, Shabbona, Somonauk, and Waterman – are expected to pay $162,000 this year.

The proposed fees are relatively modest. The Shabbona Fire District recently approved a $1,900 fee, which will increase by 3% to 4% annually through 2021. When spread across the district’s approximately 400 homes, the cost per homeowner ranges from 14 cents to $2 for every $100,000 in assessed value.

However, volunteer fire departments are already under financial pressure. In Shabbona, firefighters earn $8.50 per hour, while paramedics make $12.50. Ottengheime, who serves as part-time chief, earns just $3,000 a year.

“No one is getting rich doing this,” he said. “People show up because they want to help, not because they’re making money.”

Training requirements and the rising costs of ambulance operations are making volunteer ambulance services increasingly difficult to maintain. With tax caps limiting what districts can collect, adding new fees could impact the ability of fire departments to afford necessary equipment and training.

Scott noted that the sheriff’s office has gone through multiple proposals to ensure fairness. He also pointed out that the increased fees are tied to rising labor costs, which are governed by union contracts.

“Fire dispatching isn’t something the sheriff’s office is legally required to do,” Scott said. “It’s an added responsibility, not a mandated one.”

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office provides dispatching services to most rural fire departments in the county. Starting this year, these departments will be charged new fees, which will increase by 3.4% to 4.1% annually through June 30, 2021.

Cortland: $4,300

Hinckley: $2,750

Kirkland: $3,400

Lee: $450

Leland: $1,450

Malta: $2,350

Paw Paw: $200

Shabbona: $1,900

Somonauk: $5,950

Waterman: $2,400

Source: DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office

Thanks, Dan

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