Wauconda fire district approves sharing inspectors with village

Wauconda Fire Protection District trustees Thursday approved their end of a deal that would have fire-code inspectors also performing similar building inspection duties for village government.

Village of Wauconda officials sought the arrangement with the fire district as part of this week's layoffs of six employees, some of whom worked in the building and zoning department. The village is cutting expenses in an attempt to fill a projected $1 million deficit in the tentative 2010-11 budget.

Under the deal fire district trustees approved by a 4-0 vote Thursday, the village would pay an additional $50,000 annually for the service. No residents spoke during the meeting's public comment time.

In all, the village would pay $2 million annually to the district for fire, ambulance and building inspection services through a contract that would extend to April 30, 2011. Village board members must ratify the deal Tuesday night for it to be official.

Fire Chief David Dato said his three inspectors are familiarizing themselves with Wauconda's building department operations. He said training they have undergone qualifies them to perform inspections for the village and fire district.

Dato said the three district employees who would handle village business focus on inspections and fire prevention, not battling blazes. He said the inspectors' work for the village would not affect a staff of 40 full-time firefighters.

"They're a backup (for firefighting) on a daily basis," Dato said.

Four of the six employees dismissed this week worked in the building and zoning department. Wauconda was using outside companies for electrical and plumbing inspections before the layoffs, Village Administrator Dan Quick said.

The village, which is grappling with financial woes similar to many other suburbs, estimates the job cuts will save $360,000 annually when the new budget year begins May 1. Wauconda officials announced eight employee layoffs in July 2008, with a projected yearly savings of $450,000.