Excerpts from the Chicago Tribune website:

The City of Highwood may soon partner with a private company to hire additional firefighters and paramedics. This move aims to maintain the necessary staffing levels required to keep the city's fire insurance rating intact. According to City Manager Scott Coren, the Highwood Fire Department needs at least four personnel on duty at all times to meet the standards set by the Insurance Services Office. This requirement aligns with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the local chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Currently, Highwood benefits from automatic aid agreements with neighboring cities like Highland Park and Lake Forest, which means they can call on these departments for assistance when needed, and vice versa. On April 8th, the Highwood City Council narrowly voted 4-3 in favor of negotiating a contract with Kurtz Paramedic Services or a similar firm to bring on extra full-time firefighters. The city's existing fire department serves a population of approximately 5,400 residents and already employs four full-time firefighters who are not in their probationary periods, along with one probationary employee. Additionally, the department relies on part-time workers to fill any gaps.

If approved, this new arrangement would trigger a 30-day waiting period as per the current labor agreement. An official deal might be finalized around mid-May. Importantly, City Manager Coren stated that there are no plans to terminate any of the current full-time firefighters if the city decides to go ahead with hiring external help. Kurtz Paramedic Services, a major player in the field, currently employs over 750 professionals across various locations. They manage contracts for numerous municipalities including Wheaton, Bensenville, and Tinley Park, among others.

In addressing the council, Tom Vana, President and CEO of Kurtz, highlighted that their average employee has nearly 15 years of experience. If selected for the Highwood contract, the company intends to prioritize hiring existing Highwood staff members first, provided they wish to join the team; otherwise, new recruits will be considered. During the recent council meeting, Fire Battalion Chief David Mohry voiced concerns regarding how introducing even a small number of private employees could affect morale and stability within such a compact department. He also mentioned apprehensions about potential high turnover rates impacting service quality.

Thanks, Dan!

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