Bartlett fire volunteers get approval for street dance despite objection

There were no "Footloose" references during Tuesday's Bartlett village board meeting as officials debated the merits of holding a street dance sponsored by the village's volunteer fire department.

"Footloose" is the 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon that chronicles a small town which bans dancing. The issue splits the town, pitting neighbor versus neighbor.

Flash forward to Tuesday's board meeting where members of the Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department addressed the board about holding a street dance on Saturday, Sept. 4, on Main Street from Railroad Avenue to the village hall parking lot entrance.

The volunteers held the event on Labor Day last year and want to expand it this year. The village board on Tuesday voted to again allow the event this year. The volunteers said the event will bring the community together in a festival atmosphere and include many family activities for charity. Don't expect a dance-off of "Footloose" proportions.

However, some, including Art Pierscionek, objected.

Pierscionek, a trustee on the Bartlett Fire Protection District board, said he didn't think holding the street dance was the best utilization of a heavily-used village road.

The volunteer fire department has no affiliation with the fire protection district and doesn't fight fires. It is a community service organization carrying on the legacy of service of the 26 volunteers who organized to fight fires on Dec. 22, 1897. The volunteers own the Bartlett Fire Barn, a community building next to village hall at 216 Main St.

While Pierscionek complimented the work done by the volunteers, he worried about the issue "splitting apart the community." The fire protection district board was expected to talk about the issue at a meeting Wednesday night.