Trustees to Talk Fire Protection Fee

The village's proposed fire protection fee moves closer to adoption Monday when trustees go through a first reading of the ordinance that will make it law.

In a nutshell, the water needed to put out fires is currently paid for by residents who use municipal water, and it is part of their annual tax bill. The protection fee, though, spreads out the payment among all property owners - even those not using municipal water and that may be unoccupied - to the tune of $15 per quarter.

The fee removes the funding from the tax levy and does not include the cost of the firefighters and firefighting equipment, which is paid for in the village’s budget.

At the Aug. 5 board meeting, Village Administrator Mark Janiuk confirmed that the Public Service Commission has approved the fee.

Trustees meet at 7 p.m. Monday for the board meeting at the Eastside Community Center, 6156 Douglas Avenue.