Woodstock Fire Rescue District news

Woodstock Fire Chief Ralph Webster has announced that changes are coming to the Woodstock Fire Rescue District following the decision by Lakewood Village not to renew its contract with the department.

For the past five years, Woodstock has been responsible for staffing Lakewood’s fire station on Haligus Road. Now, with the contract ending, the station will be shut down. According to Webster, 12 employees were working at the station, and while he is trying to retain as many as possible, some job losses seem inevitable.

“There’s going to have to be some changes,” Webster said. “It could either mean reducing hours for everyone or eliminating certain positions.”

The Lakewood Village Board voted 3-1, with one trustee abstaining, to accept a slightly more cost-effective proposal from the Crystal Lake Fire Department. The new contract ties future increases to the village’s tax base, rather than continuing with the Woodstock agreement.

Under the previous deal, Woodstock’s contract would have cost $750,000 in the first year, with a 1.5% annual increase for the next four years. The village would also have contributed $25,000 per year toward equipment purchases.

Crystal Lake Fire Chief Paul DeRaedt confirmed that the department will continue operating its Bard Road station, which was originally built to serve Lakewood. The current staff of four to five firefighters will remain in place under the new arrangement.

The new contract with Crystal Lake is expected to cost about $744,000 in the first year. This amount is calculated based on applying the Crystal Lake Rural Fire Protection District’s tax rate to Lakewood’s property base. The agreement is set for 10 years, with potential renewal options every five years.

Webster plans to present his proposed changes to the Woodstock Fire Rescue District Board of Trustees after the new year, with any adjustments expected to take effect in February.

From Lakewood’s perspective, the shift means they won’t need to build a new fire station in the future. The village can also sell its existing fire equipment and pay off an internal loan, according to a memo from Village Manager Catherine Peterson.