Excerpts from the Daily Herald: A proposed ballot measure in Warrenville could determine whether the Fire Protection District's board members are elected or appointed, and this decision may affect future consolidation efforts within DuPage County. Voters in the district will have their say on April 7, deciding whether to transition from an appointed system—where the three trustees are currently selected by the DuPage County Board Chairman—to an elected one. This change would give residents more direct control over who represents them and manages their local fire services. William Mennell, a local resident and president of the fire protection district board, is among those pushing for the change. He collected over 1,600 signatures to get the question on the ballot. “We as citizens have very little say in who our district trustees are,†he said. “The people should have a voice in who spends their money.†Mennell emphasized that the initiative was driven by residents, not the board itself. In 2012, a county-contracted consulting firm explored the possibility of consolidating fire services across DuPage County. Warrenville was one of the districts examined, but the report found it to be financially stable. Mennell argued that the district already provides high-quality fire and ambulance services and sees no need for consolidation. “Consolidation might work in some cases,†he said. “But in Warrenville, we believe bigger isn’t always better.†However, DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, who has been praised by Governor Bruce Rauner for his work on consolidation, questions the motives behind the ballot initiative. He claims that county officials have been working to bring transparency and accountability to fire protection districts in recent years. “It’s no secret they’ve resisted these efforts,†Cronin said. He pointed out that while the Warrenville board adopted DuPage’s ethics policy, it refused to sign an intergovernmental agreement that would make the policy enforceable. Cronin also noted that the county has repeatedly encouraged the district to join the West Suburban Fire/Rescue Alliance—a group focused on improving emergency response times and resource sharing. So far, however, Warrenville has shown no interest, according to Cronin. “They just want to run their own little empire,†he said. “Whether the trustees are elected or appointed doesn’t matter to me, as long as the district is efficient and safe.†Mennell, however, argues that the district already collaborates with other fire departments to share equipment and services. Kate Perkins, a former trustee now supporting the ballot measure, believes that if consolidation ever comes up, Warrenville needs to have a say. “We won’t have a voice if the trustees are appointed,†she said. “They’ll answer to Dan Cronin, because he’s the one who hires and fires them.†Thanks, Dan and John Football Turf,Football Artificial Grass,Landscape Football Artificial Grass,Sports Artificial Grass Yantai UVT Sports Co.,Ltd. , https://www.uvtgolf.com
July 12, 2025