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Darien to discuss fire and EMS services

DARIEN — Questions about the future of shared fire and ambulance services between the village of Darien and town of Darien could be answered Wednesday night.

The village and town boards will meet to talk about joint services and possible changes to the agreement between the two municipalities.

The village pays 44.2 percent of the annual budget for fire and EMS, and the town pays 55.8 percent, Village Administrator Diana Dykstra said.

The Darien Fire & Rescue budget has been rising sharply in recent years.

For 2011, the fire department alone has budgeted $203,819. That is up 39.3 percent from $146,340 in 2010, which was up 38.9 percent from $105,325 in 2009.

"So, it's a trend. It's just getting higher," Dykstra said.

The village is not prepared to pay more for emergency services for the next few years while it pays down its debt service, she said.

The town asked for the agenda to include discussion and possible action on moving EMS services out of the shared building at 311 W. Madison St. and into the former Protect-all building, which is owned by the village and located in downtown Darien.

That would leave the fire department to pay the whole cost of operating in the Madison Street facility and would require renovations to the Protect-all building, Dykstra said. The building is in dire need of renovation, she said.

The town also asked for the agenda to include an examination of the cost-sharing percentages in the agreement and the future of the agreement itself.

IF YOU GO

What: Joint meeting of the Darien Town Board and the Darien Village Board

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Darien Village Board room, 20 N. Wisconsin St.

Details: The two governmental bodies will talk about their shared fire services including next year's budget, the possibility of the department moving to a new building, confirmation of cost sharing and the future of the agreement to share the department.