DeKalb County rural fire departments to pay for dispatch services

Excerpts from the DailyChronicle.com:

For decades, DeKalb County’s 10 rural fire departments have relied on free dispatching services provided by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division, since the establishment of the 911 system. However, this long-standing arrangement is now coming to an end.

The shift comes after months of discussions between Sheriff Roger Scott and other county officials about implementing a new fee structure for the smaller fire departments.

So far, only Cortland and Kirkland have not yet agreed to pay the new fees. This has caused some frustration among local leaders, including Shabbona Fire Chief Frank Ottengheime, who has served with the all-volunteer department for 40 years.

“We pay taxes, we pay county taxes, we pay our phone bills, even our cell phone bills. In some cases, they collect city taxes,” said Ottengheime. “I don’t know how many times we can be taxed for the same service.”

He added, “Our belief is that this is an essential service and should be provided without additional costs.”

Despite the county’s current efforts to reduce spending, Sheriff Scott clarified that budget constraints were not the reason behind the change. Instead, it was rural police departments that first proposed the idea, suggesting that fire departments should contribute financially to help offset their own costs.

“Rural police departments have been paying for years, and there was a consensus among them that fire departments should also chip in,” Scott explained. “They brought this proposal to the Law and Justice Committee back in 2015 and worked to develop a plan that included fire departments.”

According to county documents, rural fire agencies will pay approximately $26,000 for dispatching services this fiscal year, with that amount expected to rise to around $30,000 by 2021.

The eight rural police departments — Cortland, Hinckley, Kingston, Kirkland, Malta, Shabbona, Somonauk, and Waterman — are set to pay $162,000 this year.

While the proposed fees may seem small, they represent another financial challenge for volunteer fire departments already struggling with limited resources. For instance, Shabbona’s fire board recently agreed to pay $1,900 for dispatching services, with annual increases of 3% to 4% through 2021.

These costs, when spread across homeowners, could add anywhere from 14 cents to $2 per $100,000 in assessed value. With about 400 homes in the district, this adds up quickly.

Volunteer firefighters in Shabbona earn $8.50 per hour, while paramedics make $12.50. As part-time chief, Ottengheime earns $3,000 annually.

“No one is getting rich fighting fires,” he said. “A person might get $10 for being up at 3 a.m., but they’re not in it for the money.”

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

Scott noted that several different fee formulas were considered before settling on the current plan, ensuring fairness for all departments. He also pointed out that the increases are tied to labor costs governed by union contracts.

“Fire dispatching is not a legal requirement for the sheriff’s office,” Scott emphasized. “It's an extra responsibility that we’ve taken on over the years.”

Currently, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office provides dispatching services to most rural fire departments. New fees have been introduced, with annual increases ranging from 3.4% to 4.1% through June 30, 2021.

Fee Breakdown:

  • 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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