Custer Fire to host Town Hall meeting

A town hall meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, July 17 in the former R-C elementary School, 35445 S. Washington St., Custer Park, to discuss a proposed intergovernmental agreement between the Custer Fire Protection District and Braidwood Fire Protection District.

The Custer Fire Protection District (CFPD) and the Braidwood Fire Protection District (BFPD) are currently in discussions to enter into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that would hand operations of the Custer district over to Braidwood.

Talks with Braidwood about an IGA or a potential merger began late last year.

While the IGA is still in draft form, the agreement would pass 100% of the tax revenue taken in by the Custer Fire Protection District to Braidwood, and CFPD will sell off all assets that Braidwood does not need or want, liquidate those assets, and forward those monies to Braidwood.

Per the draft IGA, Braidwood would keep Custer’s ambulance.

If approved, the departments would like to move ahead with the terms of the IGA as of August.

The draft puts the length of the agreement at five years, at which time the agreement will be reevaluated, and the two departments could possibly merge. A merger could generate taxpayer savings by reducing duplicate costs, such as dispatch and insurance.

During the meeting, residents will have a chance to ask questions, express their views and concerns, and get an overview of the proposed IGA.

Residents are encouraged to attend.