From the McHenry Township Fire Protection District:
On March 31, 2021 the McHenry Township Fire Protection District (MTFPD) decommissioned and donated a water tender (also called a tanker) to the Equality Fire Department.
The tender serviced the MTFPD for 35 years to protect the community at fires where water wasn’t readily accessible and would need to be transported to the scene.
Due to its age, limited monetary value and the availability of two newer tenders within the MTFPD’s fleet, the decision was made at the March 18, 2021 Board of Trustees meeting to deem the tender as surplus and to donate to another fire department that could benefit from its use.
MTFPD Board of Trustees President Allen Miller stated “our Board was very supportive of “paying it forward” and assisting a fire department in need.
Tender 1273 did its job for our community and it was time to assist another fire department with older equipment”.
Equality Fire Department is an all-volunteer fire department that operates on a small annual budget.
Equality is located about 50 miles east of Carbondale and protects approximately 142 square miles and a population of 1,000 while also protecting the Garden of the Gods and Shawnee National Forest.
The addition of the tender will assist the Equality Fire Department to better serve their community.
As a resident of McHenry Township, I feel these public servants should have sold the tanker instead of playing Santa Claus with our capital.
This is outrageous.
These people are tax pigs who are not watching out for the taxpayers.