Excerpts from DailyHerald.com: The city of Highwood has reached a significant agreement with its fire union and individual members, paving the way for the dissolution of its own fire department. In exchange, the city will now receive emergency services—including fire and paramedic response—from Highland Park. However, before this transition can take place, Highwood voters must approve a referendum on the March 15 ballot that would allow the city to stop providing these services directly. The two neighboring suburbs have finalized a 30-year contract, under which Highland Park will assume responsibility for fire and emergency services in Highwood starting July 1, provided the referendum passes. The first year of service will cost Highwood $625,000, with annual increases tied to inflation but capped at 3%. The Highwood City Council was set to vote on the agreement on November 17. A crucial part of the deal is that Highwood must resolve labor disputes with its local Fire Fighters Union over the department’s closure and the outsourcing of services by July 1. Additionally, the city must settle grievances involving three first-year firefighters who were fired just before their probationary periods ended. At the time, Highwood was reducing full-time staff and planning to outsource some roles to Paramedic Services of Illinois. That plan was paused after the union filed complaints, and the three firefighters were later rehired as part-time employees. If the referendum passes, Highwood will pay lump sum severance packages to five firefighters, including those who were dismissed. Part-time employees will also be compensated $25 for each 24-hour shift they work between November 2015 and June 30, 2016, when the department is expected to close. In addition, both the union and the employees have agreed not to make negative comments about the city or interfere with the referendum process. The union has also committed not to involve the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois in the matter. Highland Park’s Fire Station 34, located just a few blocks west of Highwood’s western border, already responds to many of Highwood’s emergency calls through existing mutual aid agreements. Given that Highwood is less than one square mile and completely surrounded by Highland Park, the transition seems logistically feasible. According to city officials, Highwood expects to save $684,000 in the first year alone, with projected savings of $9.3 million over the first decade of the agreement, even if the maximum 3% annual increase is applied to payments to Highland Park. For more details and previous coverage, check out our archives HERE. Pickleball Balls,Pickle Ball,Pickleball Equipment,Pickleball Balls Outdoor Nantong Zhongyi Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.apl-pickleball.com