Pingree fire stations turned down by voters

A majority of voters said "no" to two new fire stations in a referendum question in Tuesday's election asking permission to borrow $8.5 million for construction in the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Protection District.

There were 859 "no" votes and 608 "yes" votes, with all 16 precincts reporting in Kane County, according to unofficial results.

Fire Chief Mitch Crocetti said the district wanted to be better positioned geographically to reduce response times for an increasing population. The district has three fire stations, one of which - Station 4 on Plank Road - would have been closed and sold if the two new ones were built.

The 20-year property tax increase would have amounted to about $117 per year for a house valued at $300,000, Crocetti said.

The 50-square-mile district serves about 15,000 residents in Pingree Grove, the northern end of Campton Hills, and unincorporated areas.

The two new fire stations would have been built in the vicinity of Plato and Rippburger roads, and on Highland Avenue just east of Coombs Road.