Excerpts from DailyHerald.com: 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 and reduce emergency 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. The district plans to cover part of the cost with $2 million from its general fund and the remaining $6.5 million through a 20-year property tax increase. For a home valued at $300,000, this would add roughly $117 annually in taxes. The 50-square-mile district serves approximately 15,000 residents across Pingree Grove, the northern part of Campton Hills, and surrounding unincorporated areas. Over the past few years, the area has seen an average of 300 new housing units added per year. The two new stations will be located near Plato and Rippburger roads, and on Highland Avenue just east of Coombs Road. These locations were chosen based on population density within the district, which was originally 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 any obstacles. The goal with the new stations is to bring that down to an average of six minutes — the standard for emergency medical services. This would be the first bond issue in the district’s history. It currently employs 54 firefighters who responded to over 1,090 calls last year. The annual budget is around $3 million, and the district had saved for nine years before paying cash for the 2015 station, which replaced the old Station 1. The former Station 1 was sold for about $160,000 to Anchor Spa & Pool Inc. If the referendum passes, the new property tax increase will appear on 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 less than the estimated $117 per year. Bike Stem Extender,Titanium Bicycle Stem Extender,Titanium Bick Stem Extender,Titanium Stem Heighten Riser Bao Ji Titour Technology Co.,Ltd , https://www.cntitour.com
Pingree Grove Fire Protection District news
Specialising in the production and manufacture of various accessories for titanium bikes, the titanium bike seatpost from Chinese brand TITOUR creates a high-quality lightweight bike Bike Stem Extender for users.