Found in the minutes of January 13th’s McHenry County Board Law and Justice Committee meeting:
Chief Kimmel and President Higgins presented the Marengo Rescue Squad Updates.
Chief Kimmel and Board President Scott Higgins elaborated on the efforts to consolidate the three districts.
They explained that an intergovernmental agreement was already in place, allowing Marengo Rescue Squad employees to be listed on the Marengo Fire Protection District roster.
This agreement enabled employees to participate in the state pension system, which was a critical step in improving employee benefits.
They outlined their broader goal of fully consolidating the Marengo Rescue Squad, Marengo Fire Protection District, and Union Fire District.
This consolidation aimed to standardize emergency response protocols, share resources more effectively, and provide better benefits for employees.
To initiate this process, they had scheduled a joint meeting for January 28th, where all three boards would come together to discuss the next steps.
The committee discussed potential challenges associated with the consolidation effort.
These challenges included historical tensions, personal agendas, and disparities in tax rates among the districts, all of which could complicate the process.
Despite obstacles, the committee expressed their willingness to assist the rescue squad in collaborating with the county’s state’s attorney to ensure that the consolidation process, including any necessary ballot questions, would be handled properly.
Additionally, there was a discussion about pursuing legislative changes to prevent the need to average tax rates during the consolidation.
This step was seen as critical to protecting budgets and avoiding financial difficulties for the newly unified district.
The consensus was that the committee supported the consolidation of the Marengo Rescue Squad, Marengo Fire Protection District, and Union Fire District to enhance operations, share resources, and improve employee benefits, while also assisting with legal processes and exploring legislative solutions to address challenges like tax rate disparities and historical tensions.
