Pingree Grove Fire Protection District news

The Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District is set to put a referendum on the ballot on April 4, seeking voter approval to borrow $8.5 million for the construction of two new fire stations.

Fire Chief Mitch Crocetti explained that the initiative aims to improve geographic coverage, allowing faster response times as the population continues to grow. With three existing stations, one of them — Station 4 on Plank Road — would be closed and sold if the new ones are built.

To repay the loan, the district plans to use $2 million from its general fund and an additional $6.5 million through a 20-year property tax increase. For a home valued at $300,000, this would result in an annual tax increase of about $117.

The district covers 50 square miles and serves approximately 15,000 residents across Pingree Grove, parts of Campton Hills, and unincorporated areas. Over the past few years, the area has seen around 300 new housing units added annually, prompting the need for better emergency services.

The proposed new stations will be located near Plato and Rippburger roads, and on Highland Avenue east of Coombs Road. These locations were chosen based on population density within the district's boundaries, which were initially established in 1957 and later expanded eastward.

Crocetti noted that current response times to the far southwest part of the district can take up to 11 or 12 minutes without adverse weather conditions. The goal with the new stations is to cut that time down to six minutes, aligning with standard EMS response times.

This would be the first bond issue for the district, which currently employs 54 firefighters and responded to over 1,090 calls last year. Its annual budget is approximately $3 million, and it has been saving up for years, even paying cash for its most recent station, which opened in 2015.

The previous Station 1 was sold for about $160,000 to Anchor Spa & Pool Inc. If the referendum passes, the new property tax increase would appear on tax bills starting in June 2018.

Crocetti also mentioned that the district’s property values have been rising steadily over the past few years. If this trend continues, the actual tax burden could end up being lower than the estimated $117 per year.

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