2023 Referendum Question and Answer Information
Why is the Fire District placing a bond referendum on the ballot?
Demand for service and emergency response times in the Long Grove Fire District are increasing due to more people living in the district and increasing traffic congestion. To better meet the demand and keep emergency response times from increasing beyond the point which there will be greater risks to residents and property, the existing fire station should be relocated so that there is better access to the road network servicing the district.
What will the ballot question look like?
Shall the Long Grove Fire Protection District, Lake and Cook Counties, Illinois, acquire land and build and equip a new fire station and issue its bonds to the amount of $16,500,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
When and where can I vote on this referendum?
During early voting, you can use any convenient site.
Starts 40 days before Election Day only at the Lake County Clerk's office. (25 days for a Consolidated Election if there is a primary)
Opens county-wide at designated locations 15 days before Election Day.
Ends the Monday before Election Day.
You can use any early voting site regardless of where you live.
Available until March 19, 2023
Register in person
Until March 7, 2023
On Election Day, APRIL 4, you must use the neighborhood voting site assigned to service your address.
Why now? What is the urgency of this project?
An assessment of the Long Grove Fire Protection District reveals that emergency response time is approaching unsafe levels. Increasing delay threatens the wellbeing of residents and can be avoided by relocating the existing facility so that first responders can react to emergencies and quickly get to where they are needed. Any delay to an ambulance or fire truck can mean the difference between life or death, or a partial or complete property loss.
How will the proceeds of the bond measure be used?
The proceeds will be used to purchase property and construct a new fire station at a more accessible location to ensure that safe response times are not exceeded.
What is the estimated tax impact?
The property tax increase that is necessary to fund a modern fire station in an improved location will be negligible at six dollars monthly per $100,000 of equalized assessed valuation.
Why do we need a new fire station? What’s wrong with the existing station?
Real space constraints at the existing fire station cause problems that cannot be addressed due to the size of the property. However, the more critical issue is community safety. The location of the station needs to be changed to avoid emergency ambulance and fire truck response delays.
The existing station was built in the 1980s for a much smaller, all-volunteer fire department and its location was chosen to meet the needs of Long Grove at the time. At the time of construction, it was centrally located. The increasing population and expansive geographic growth of the areas around Long Grove mean that the needs of the district have changed. Today, the fire station is less able to meet area service demands safely and quickly.
Where will the new station be located?
An appropriate location has not yet been purchased. The District is exploring property options near IL Route 83 and Aptakisic Road. This area will provide good accessibility to road networks and provide strategic advantages.
How big will the new station be and what personnel and equipment will be housed there?
A new station will be designed to have a useful life of at least 50 years. It would be approximately 24,000 square feet, which is large enough for 4 firefighting vehicles, 3 ambulances, 2 command vehicles, ancillary vehicles and our current emergency response force of 7 personnel per day and 4 administrative personnel. The investment made now will be able to accommodate community needs into the distant future.
How did you determine the size of the new station?
A professional architectural facility assessment was completed.
What will the new station look like?
The conceptual plan is for a fire station with 5 bay doors and areas for around the clock shift personnel, administrative offices and other support and storage areas. The building would also contain a needed room for community purposes such as homeowner association meetings, community CPR training, and use by non-profit agencies. The facility will be architecturally pleasing and designed to fit in with the character of the community.
What happens to the existing fire station?
The existing station will be closed and sold with the proceeds applied to offset the costs of a new station. If not used for a public purpose, the property may be sold to a private developer who might utilize the space to enhance the downtown area of Long Grove.
What are the anticipated benefits of a new fire station for residents?
The primary objective of a relocated station is to avoid a real danger to residents from increasingly long emergency response times. A centrally located fire station will improve response times, thus allowing the district to better protect citizens’ health and property. Residents will also have access to a new community meeting space in the firehouse.
What are the anticipated benefits to first responders?
A new location will enable first responders to better do their jobs by providing quicker access to resident lifesaving and property protection services. Cancer prevention efforts will be built into the facility using zones to control contaminants and pathogens in each area. This safer and healthier work environment will help with employee wellness and reduce medical claims and on-the-job injuries.
Is emergency call volume increasing? If so, why?
As the number of people who live in the district has increased, so has the demand for emergency services.
1. The area’s population is aging.
Not only is the overall population increasing, but within the last decade, four nursing homes and assisted living centers were added to the district. Combined with the aging population of homeowners, the percentage of older people in the district has increased dramatically. The increase in the area’s elderly population has driven up the number of calls for which a response is required.
2. There has been an increase in the number of area traffic collisions.
In addition, more vehicle traffic in the district has led to an increase in traffic collisions. The District regularly responds to those collisions with lifesaving equipment and personnel. Greater demand and congestion lead to increased emergency response times. In 2022 the Long Grove Fire Protection District responded to almost 2,000 incidents. That number is 6% higher than in 2021 and is expected to continue climbing.
Are most of the District’s calls for emergency medical service?
Approximately 2/3 of calls the District receives are medical responses. That number is expected to further increase as the number of older residents in the District continues to rise.
Are response times increasing?
More people and more vehicles on the road are increasing traffic congestion, causing emergency response times to escalate. It is becoming more and more difficult to respond to an emergency within six minutes, which currently can be done about 85% of the time. That percentage decreases annually and further delays jeopardize lives and property. A relocated fire station will reduce response times, save lives, and reduce property damage.
What is the District’s service area? What communities are served?
The District is approximately 14 square miles and serves portions of the Villages of Deer Park, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Lincolnshire and Long Grove. We also serve unincorporated areas in Lake and Cook Counties.
How many residents does the District serve?
According to the 2020 census, the population is just over 10,000 residents.
In addition to residential properties, what does the District protect?
The District serves approximately 725 students who attend one public and three private schools. We also serve four senior and assisted living centers which have more than 500 occupants, a large corporate office complex, four country clubs and historic downtown Long Grove. Our Fire Prevention Bureau performs over 962 inspections annually.
How is the District funded? Does the District get funds from the many villages it serves?
The District does not receive any funding from villages or townships. The District is its own taxing entity and is primarily funded by property taxes. About 10% of the funds to operate the District comes from transporting patients to hospitals.
Can grants be used to help address the District’s facility and equipment needs?
The main goal of the referendum is not to buy more equipment but to relocate the existing fire station to better serve residents. Unfortunately, no recognized grant opportunities for fire station construction currently exist. The District does solicit federal and state funding for equipment and the District has been successful in obtaining grants to help offset equipment costs.
Why hasn’t the District been putting aside funds for this project?
The District is mindful of the resident’s property tax burden. Past property tax levies were used for operations and equipment purchases, and not for a new fire station. Increasing the property tax levy now would not produce sufficient revenue to purchase land or construct a new fire station. While the District has reserve funds in an amount consistent with Government Accounting Practice Standards, those funds are to be used to replace or repair necessary equipment so we can respond 24/7 to an emergency. It is not prudent to spend down reserves if an essential piece of equipment needs to be purchased.
Will the District have sufficient funds to properly maintain the new station?
The District will be able to properly maintain the station.
Does the District have outstanding long-term debt?
No. The facility and all equipment has been fully paid for and is owned by the District.
Will the District be funding any of the proposed improvements with existing reserves?
No. The reserves are used only for emergency purchases and for planned capital expenditures. While we take care of our equipment with regular repairs and maintenance, frequent emergency calls are hard on heavy equipment. The working lives of fire trucks and ambulances are shorter than that of private vehicles. Because of this, we have recently needed to utilize our reserve funds to replace server critical pieces of equipment including a new fire engine and a new ambulance. Those vehicles will be in service over the next 24 to 36 months.
How long will this tax last?
20 years.
What is the construction timeline? When would the new station open?
We expect construction to take 18-24 months. The new station should be open by the fall of 2025.
How can I get additional information?
Call the fire station at 847-634-3143 and speak with a Chief officer.
Visit our website at lgfpd.org
Email: referendum@lgfpd.org