Recently Calumet City announced it was considering outsourcing its fire department.
Lakewood has done this as long as I can remember.
First, it was the Crystal Lake Fire Department providing protection.
Next came a privatized department.
That was switched with one-year to go in the contract to the Woodstock Fire Protection District.
When that contract expired, it was back to the Crystal Lake Fire Department.
In no case was the Village of Lakewood directly incurring liability for pensions.
Now, Calumet Park is considering disbanding its fire department.
The reason?
“To cut costs in the wake of shrinking revenues,” the Daily Southtown reports the mayor indicating.
The local grocery store closed, taking with it a major source of sales tax revenue.
The Department has about thirty unionized part-time firefighters who are “receive benefits and good salaries,” the article says.
“Village firefighters are compensated ‘at a great rate,”’guaranteed a minimum number of hours and have negotiated minimum manning requirements,” Mayor Ronald Denson told residents.
Would they be able to contract with an outside company without having to adhere to the prevailing wage clause for public money?
As Calumet Park goes, so goes Illinois.
On the other hand they could go to a volunteer fire dept – or maybe not, the unions may frown upon that idea.
Maybe Jake and Elwood could do another fundraiser.
“a volunteer fire dept…” How emblematic of this sunshine blog! Stay tuned…tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, meeeeeoooooowwwwwwwww…
Time to “cut according to cloth” and save money where you can.
Next should be ESL teachers in the public schools.
Right on que, comes Minnie the Moocher…
Dj, I didn’t see cal the moocher post. Everyone of us pays into his stolen check every month.
He and pually ryan are of the same cut, “i got mine, nobody else though.”
I can’t please everybody, so I take satisfaction with those I don’t.