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Dixmoor to shutdown fire department
The Southtown Star, a publication of the Sun-Times, is reporting that the village of Dixmoor is shutting down its fire department effective December 1, 2013. This decision comes as the financially troubled community continues to face mounting challenges.
In a letter dated Tuesday, the village attorney informed the union representing fire department employees that the dissolution would proceed, with the final date set for December 1. The move has sparked outrage among workers and local residents alike. Mayor Dorothy Armstrong, who was elected earlier this year, had previously warned of a budget deficit exceeding $1 million, with the fire department costing the village over $773,000 annually — nearly a third of its revenue. Despite these figures, the village board moved quickly to disband the department without allowing public input.
Tim McDonald, president of Local 73 of the Service Employees International Union, said the mayor had been pushing for this change for years. He criticized the lack of transparency, noting that the board voted to dissolve the department during a special meeting without giving residents a chance to speak. “This is why Dixmoor will always be seen as a joke by serious people,†he said.
Before the official shutdown, six of the 12 full-time firefighters were already laid off, and about a dozen part-timers remain. A firefighter who requested anonymity told me that the village plans to outsource fire protection to the Harvey Fire Department and hire a private ambulance service for paramedics. But there are concerns about what happens after November 30, when current staff will no longer be employed.
Dixmoor, with a population of just 3,644, is one of the poorest suburbs in the Chicago area, with a median household income of $38,817 and nearly 36% of residents living below the poverty line. The village has long struggled with mismanagement and corruption. It once operated a park district police force of over 100 part-time officers, despite owning only a single park. The facility was in disrepair, with broken playground equipment and an unkept lawn. A $100,000 bond was issued for a fieldhouse that was never built, leading to criminal charges against several officials.
Political scandals have plagued Dixmoor for years. Former Mayor Donald Luster was sentenced to probation for fraud and tax evasion. Last year, former Mayor Keevan Grimmett was removed from the ballot for not residing at his registered address. Trustee Michael Smith resigned after pleading guilty to stealing gasoline from the town. And just months before the fire department closure, reports surfaced that only three of five police cars had fuel, and the fire chief complained that his staff wasn’t being paid.
Firefighters in Dixmoor earn between $12 and $13 per hour, which McDonald described as low pay for a job that involves risking lives. He added that the union had won a grievance for back pay but had yet to collect. “They owe about $12,000 to each employee because they gave raises to the police department but not to us,†he said.
McDonald also noted that the union’s contract requires that if any other village workers receive a raise, firefighters must too. With the department set to close, he said the union will no longer hold back.
While some might question whether a small village like Dixmoor needs a fire department, McDonald argued that residents deserve basic services. “What happens if a neighboring department is busy and can’t respond?†he asked. “And if the village is struggling financially, where will it get the money to pay what it owes?â€
Finding a reliable source in Dixmoor has proven difficult, given its history of corruption and poor governance. Many officials are reluctant to speak on the record. Still, the situation highlights a broader issue: many south suburbs are facing financial collapse, and Dixmoor is one of them.
Whether dissolving the fire department is the right move or not, residents are left wondering whether their leaders can be trusted. After all, they’ve paid taxes for years, yet received little in return.