One chief to oversee 2 Dundee-area fire entities
Two Dundee-area fire entities will share one fire chief starting next year in a move officials say will allow them to save money, share resources and further consolidation efforts.
Calling it a "labor of love," West Dundee Fire Chief Randy Freise is preparing to take on the added responsibility of overseeing day-to-day operations, training, personnel and other administrative duties for a second department: the East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District.
The move comes at a convenient time for the East Dundee fire district, as Chief Steve Schmitendorf plans to retire at the end of the year, East Dundee fire district board President Mark Guth said.
On Monday, the West Dundee village board unanimously approved a final agreement for joint management services, which will go into effect Jan. 1. The East Dundee fire district board has also approved the concept, Guth said.
"The main goal is to bring both departments together functioning as one department," Freise said in a memo. "If successful, this could lay the groundwork for future cooperative efforts."
He added two departments have already made efforts to share some resources and standardize services.
Under the new agreement, the two entities will evenly split the cost of the shared chief position, which is set at $151,796.62 for 2017, said West Dundee Village Manager Joe Cavallaro. That cost includes Freise's $113,000 salary, he said, as well as benefits and other personnel expenses.
According to West Dundee documents, this is expected to result in cost savings of roughly $75,000.
Freise will report directly to Cavallaro and the East Dundee fire district board. Either department can opt out of the agreement at any time by providing 90 days notice to the other entity.
As a result of having one leader, Freise said, the two fire entities will likely share other resources, including vehicles and apparatus. He also anticipates combined training efforts, more cooperation between staffs, and in turn, better and more efficient responses to emergencies.
"This is coming at a significant cost savings," Trustee Dan Wilbrandt said. "This is another great step forward to the functional consolidation we've talked about so much."