For Heights Village Board, more time to decide future of fire department

Peoria Heights Fire Chief Greg Walters has postponed his scheduled November retirement, alleviating the immediate pressure on the Village Board to chart a new course for the fire department’s future.

“I cannot in good conscience abandon the men and women of the Peoria Heights Fire Department when so much is at stake.” said Walters on Sept. 1.
“I have a duty to rebuild the shattered morale of our current membership, which is the lowest I’ve ever seen. I will continue to fight to keep the fire department intact and in place, where it belongs.”

The surprise announcement comes after weeks of passionate deliberations. Village Board members had appeared to reach a consensus on asking voters for their input in a spring 2021 referendum.

Multiple options essentially had been whittled down to two: hiring a full-time local fire chief for the first time, or contracting with the Peoria Fire Department for service. Complicating matters has been the difficulty of recruiting people for the Heights’ current all-volunteer force.

Much of the conversation at Tuesday’s board meeting revolved around the number of missed emergency calls stemming from that shortage of voluntary manpower.

There was some disagreement over that number – 107 or 82 in 2019. Either way, the number surprised and concerned Walters.

“My heart dropped,” he said, while reassuring Heights residents that “we did not miss a fire call. We did not miss an accident with injuries. Anything that we refer to as a critical incident, we did not miss.”

Meanwhile, “somebody shows up” – ambulance service AMT, another public safety agency responding through the region’s mutual aid agreement – said Walters. “It might not be somebody from Peoria Heights Fire ... At least I know the citizens of Peoria Heights were taken care of in one way or another.”

In any case, addressing and rectifying that situation, to the degree possible – including getting the commercial driver’s license credentialing for volunteers that is necessary to operate the bigger fire equipment -- is the top priority, said Walters.

In other related discussion, board members debated the wording on the proposed referendum, which is now in the hands of village counsel. Again, there was disagreement over the interpretation of the word “neutral” in crafting a ballot question.

While some trustees want a question that contains more information about the choice being presented, including the potential cost to taxpayers, Trustee Brandon Wisenburg wants a simple up-or-down vote on the prospect of keeping a local department vs. outsourcing firefighting to the city of Peoria, or at least an attempt at a budgeting exercise before presenting any tax information to voters.

He again expressed little confidence in Peoria’s $153,000 proposal, which is considerably less than the Village now spends on such emergency services.

“Peoria is going to cost us something. It will at some point exceed what we’re paying now. I mean, that’s just the way it is, especially with public pensions,” he said. “At some point there’s going to be a tax increase, even to pay for Peoria. There’s not a person on this board that really believes it’s going to stay at (about) $150,000. I don’t.

“So we can’t possibly tell the people of Peoria Heights that they’re going to get a tax increase if we keep our fire department but they’re not going to get a tax increase if we go to Peoria. No one can make that promise. So the question when we put it on the ballot really has to be neutral.”

Peoria Assistant Fire Chief James Bachman was present to address the cost questions regarding the Peoria proposal, and did seek to clarify that the price as presented was based on the Heights’ 2019 data in terms of numbers and types of calls. Basically, it’s a “pay for what you use” option, he said. “It could be more, it could be less.”

Beyond that, typically the cost would be subject to an annual inflationary increase, usually about 3 percent, said Bachman. Of course, all of that would be subject to negotiation, including the length of the contract, said Bachman, who also clarified that the Peoria City Council would have to sign off on any agreement, just as the Heights Village Board would.

Heights Mayor Michael Phelan indicated that he has seen many a ballot initiative over the years, and in his view more information is better than less.

For example, voters could be asked, “Would you like a new vehicle? I think your answer would be ‘yes.” But there may be expectations that go along with that,” including how and how much to pay for it, he said. “We have good (cost) estimates of whatever option the Board decides to go with.”

The board did not reach a resolution on the wording of any ballot question. The matter will be taken up again at its next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Ultimately, while the Village Board has gotten something of a reprieve on making a final fire department decision, it does have a deadline yet this year for filing to get a referendum on the Apr. 6, 2021 ballot.

Parks, Open Space, and Environmental Features Webinar

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Join us for the Parks, Open Space, and Environmental Features Webinar for the Peoria Heights Comprehensive Plan!

This webinar will provide an overview of open space and parkland, trail network, and unique and sensitive natural resources. These recommendations will establish fundamental guidelines and a framework for appropriate develop and the protection of natural areas and ecological systems. Recommendations will be guided by previously discussed goals, policies, land use, and transportation, community facilities, and infrastructure recommendations.

The webinar will take place on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 6:00 PM. 

Click the following link to register:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8571500589057456139 

The Peoria Heights Zoning Board of Appeals

The Peoria Heights Zoning Board of Appeals will meet Monday, September 21, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 4901 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights, Illinois.  

The purpose of the meeting is to consider the following requests:

1. Site Plan review and variance application by PH Samuel, LLC seeking approval of a Site Plan with variances for lot size, rear setback and a front yard fence, for proposed residential development of the property located at 1324 East Samuel Avenue, Peoria Heights, Illinois, 61616 (PIN No. 14-22-402-027), which property is current zoned R-3 (Multiple Family Residential District).

2. Variance application by Gary L. Kempf, as Trustee of the GLK Land Trust, seeking a variance to permit construction of a front yard fence on the property located at 1209 East War Memorial Drive, Peoria Heights, Illinois, 61616 (PIN No. 14-27-182-028), which property is currently zoned B-2 (General Retail Business District).

Additional documents and information are available at the Village Administrator's Office in Village Hall and/or by calling 686-2385.

Let’s practice good citizenship in the Heights

The Village of Peoria Heights is encouraging local residents to fulfill two of their responsibilities as citizens in the coming weeks. 

First, Tanisha Cayson, the Heights resident who organized a racial justice march in the Heights back in June, is putting together a voter registration event at Tower Park from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Computers will be made available for people to register online. There will be information on voter suppression “so people can understand … how it’s their right to vote,” said Cayson, as well as on when and where they can exercise that right. 

Given the pandemic, physical distancing will be practiced and those who attend are asked to wear masks. If the weather does not cooperate, the event could move inside Village Hall.

“I want to be able to encourage people to actually get out and vote,” said Cayson. “Whether you’re Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, all of those are invited.” 

“I would also like to point out that Tanisha was the individual that administered the peaceful march we had about six weeks ago, which went very smoothly,” said Village Administrator Dustin Sutton. “It was really a seamless and nice event. I think she should be recognized for that, as well.”

The Village Board unanimously supported the event. 

Meanwhile, Trustee Elizabeth Khazzam is asking residents to perform another civic duty by standing up and being counted through the U.S. Census, if they haven’t done so already.

“Some things I didn’t know before now are how important it is as an indicator for funding in our community,” said Khazzam. “Millions of dollars are allocated to states and communities based on our count. It’s also mandated by the U.S. Constitution.”

For the first time this year, citizens can respond online, by phone, or by mail. The web address is my2020census.gov. The phone number is 844-330-2020. To exercise the mail option, please just return the postcard that should have been mailed to your home.

Heights likely to ask voters about future of fire service

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The Peoria Heights Village Board is leaning toward a spring 2021 referendum to provide direction regarding the future of fire protection in the Village.

Initially, Trustee Brandon Wisenburg had pushed for a Nov. 3 ballot question to voters – after first seeking a vote on hiring a new fire chief -- but that got bogged down over disagreements regarding wording and a general sense that the issue was being rushed to meet a general election filing deadline this week without enough thought and discussion.

“This is such an important question, and it’s emotional,” said Mayor Michael Phelan. “I like the idea of an advisory referendum, but I’m getting a little nervous here tonight by rushing it. This ... may be one of the biggest decisions the board has made in a decade, maybe a couple of decades, and we have to get this right.”

Ultimately, trustees agreed that it would be more prudent to wait until April 6, 2021, with as unbiased an information campaign as possible in the interim to try to ensure the truest sense of local sentiment.

While the issue has generated a lot of passion among certain members of the community, “I think some people aren’t aware that this conversation is even taking place,” said Trustee Sarah DeVore.

The downside of waiting is that current Fire Chief Greg Walters is retiring on Nov. 3, which could leave a gap in leadership in a department struggling to recruit enough volunteers to man its fire equipment.

“Regardless of your referendum, we have to make a decision,” said Trustee Diane Mariscal.

“I think it’s critical that we have a direction tonight,” said Wisenburg. “We’re running out of time.”

Trustee Sherryl Carter wasn’t so sure.

“We’re a little paranoid now ... If we did nothing, the volunteer fire department is going to continue running the way it’s running,” she said. “It’s not like we have to make a decision right this second. Let’s think about it.”

What troubles some trustees and staff is the cost of keeping the fire department in-house, which is substantially more than the Peoria Fire Department proposal. Wisenburg, an advocate of hiring a full-time chief, said he believed that Peoria’s bid was suspect – “I couldn’t imagine keeping the lights on at a firehouse for $153,000” – and that savings could be found in the existing budget to pay for the chief’s estimated $110,000 compensation package.

“We absolutely have to figure out a way to pay for this,” said Trustee Beth Khazzam. “We can’t just decide that X or Y scenario is the way to go and throw it in our administrator’s lap.”

Several trustees made mention of a public safety tax, though Mariscal would have none of it.

“Are we already paying some of the highest taxes in the area? So we’re just going to keep moving them up and up?” she asked. “I hate the whole tax thing. I hate it.”

For her part, Carter said she doesn’t “mind paying for ... the safety of my family and our residents.”

For some, contracting with the Peoria Fire Department is not an option.

“Even though it looks good, the numbers look good ... I just can’t go that way,” said Carter.

“If irrational spending and budget issues concern this board, Peoria is absolutely the last place you’d go for a solution,” said Wisenburg.

“Ask any citizen from Peoria. Literally, any of them. They’re meeting right now to cut essential services, including their fire department.

“I do not doubt the ability of the Peoria Fire Department. I do, however, question their financial house,” Wisenburg continued. “I believe the proposal that Peoria offered us is well-intentioned, but they can’t possibly promise the citizens of Peoria Heights something they cannot even guarantee their citizens of Peoria. It’s foolish to think that we’d be spared the effect of any cuts.”

The flip side, as voiced by Heights resident and Water Superintendent Dave Marfell, is that the shortage of volunteers has become untenable.

Twenty-five years of experience in the Village have taught him that “you can hire anybody and pay them a million dollars a year, and you’re not going to get volunteers in this town,” in large part because so much of the housing is rental, the occupants transient and therefore not invested in the community. “It’s a problem today, it’s going to be a problem tomorrow, and it’s going to be a problem in five years.”

“Nobody’s throwing the fire department out,” clarified Village Administrator Dustin Sutton. “There’s a cause and there’s an effect. Obviously, this was brought up because of Chief Walters’ retirement. It’s not a Peoria Heights issue but a national issue regarding volunteerism.

“We all here want a solution. We know there’s a problem. Public safety is our top priority.”

Trustees debated the wording of a ballot question, with the one caveat that it be “totally neutral,” on the advice of the Village attorney, said Wisenburg. He proposed something along the lines of “Should the Village of Peoria Heights outsource fire protection to the city of Peoria?”

Others balked, arguing that it was a leading question to which they already knew the answer in terms of how Heights residents would vote. They preferred a ballot measure – or two -- that asked whether Heights residents wanted to keep their local fire department, and if so, whether they’d be willing to pay more for it, if need be.

Ultimately, the motion was withdrawn so that trustees could spend more time thinking about how to approach the question, which they will likely grapple with at their next meeting in September. There also seemed to be some desire to advertise the position of fire chief at a certain salary – lower than the $80,000 proposed, plus benefits – to determine the number and quality of candidates who would be interested.

At the end of the night, one thing seemed clear: The Village Board wants to hear from its citizens on this crucial issue.

“I personally, as a trustee, don’t feel comfortable making that decision for the residents of Peoria Heights without some sort of referendum,” said Khazzam.

“I’m very proud of all of you,” said Phelan in capping the meeting. “This is finally the discussion tonight we needed to have.”

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Heights Fire Pros and Cons Chart

Heights Board continues to deliberate over future of fire service

With the options now seemingly down to two for the future of fire service in Peoria Heights, at least one Village trustee framed the decision as a choice between the head and heart at the Aug. 18 Village Board meeting.

The Village was looking at basically four alternatives for fire protection a few months ago when Fire Chief Greg Walters announced his impending retirement in November – the all-volunteer status quo, employing a crew for dayside coverage with a part- or full-time fire chief, contracting with the City of Peoria for fire service, or creating a fire protection district with the tax base to support it.

Now those have been whittled down to either hiring a full-time fire chief – with the option of employing a duty crew at some point down the road if recruiting volunteers continues to prove difficult – or contracting with the Peoria fire department.

The primary difference is cost.

The stated price tag on the Peoria proposal under consideration – which would include 24-7 fire and accident coverage and some emergency response, specifically to cardiac arrests – is $153,000 annually.

Meanwhile, the cost of keeping fire service local – hiring a full-time chief with benefits, on top of the money the Village currently spends on the fire department including debt service on its firefighting equipment – would be well more than double Peoria’s bid, potentially triple that if a first-shift duty crew is hired.

“This is me thinking out loud. I guess I’m looking at the bottom line,” said Trustee Diane Mariscal. “That’s a pretty big difference between what we would pay Peoria and of course what we’d pay the Heights.

“I know this fire department is very, very beloved by the community … I know there are lots of other services you guys provide the community.

“Do we follow our heart or follow our head here? As far as financially, can we afford this?” 

History and the desire for local control seemed to be exerting a powerful pull on some Village Board members.

“In the back of my mind, I cannot let Peoria step foot in here,” said Trustee Sherryl Carter. “We’ve got our own community, we’ve got it going good, we need to keep it.”

While cost is an issue, acknowledged Carter, “we need to find a way to rearrange the numbers.” She expressed confidence that a full-time fire chief could be found for less than the nearly $111,000 in salary and benefits that Walters believes is necessary to lure a quality candidate to the Heights.

Trustee Jeff Goett was of a similar mindset.

“If we’re going to spend the money, I’d just as soon keep it in the Heights,” he said. “Speaking with my heart, I want to keep a Heights Fire Department.”

Trustee Brandon Wisenburg, the board’s liaison to the fire department, also expressed a preference for hiring a fire chief, saying that time was of the essence and that the board needed to focus on the “immediate need” for daytime coverage when volunteers aren’t as readily available. 

He encouraged his fellow trustees to “support Chief Walters’ recommendation” to keep fire service local. 

For his part, Walters said that “when you’re looking at the numbers … it’s not just numbers.” Peoria’s proposal “is a reduction in service to the Village of Peoria Heights,” he said. “I would not stand for that. Our guys work hard to give as much service to the community as they can.”

Village Administrator Dustin Sutton voiced reservations about the cost, noting that it wasn’t that long ago that the Village was having to climb its way out a million-dollar budget deficit. He questioned whether the community would support a public safety tax.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” he said. “I think we need to start thinking about how we’re going to pay for this. That’s my job. That’s a large number.”

“I know this is not an easy decision,” said Mayor Michael Phelan, who reminded the board of the urgency of reaching some resolution soon with the clock ticking toward November.