Clarendon Hills Fire Controversy May End

CLARENDON HILLS, IL — Clarendon Hills' controversy over whether to get a new ladder truck may come to an end.

On Thursday, village officials issued a memo saying they agree the village needs to buy a new ladder truck, which is expected to cost $1.4 million.

One of their considerations was the publicity over the months-long debate on whether to buy a new truck, according to the memo.

Firefighters wanted to replace the old ladder truck. But Village Manager Kevin Barr urged the village to consider sharing the use of a truck with a neighboring town.

The differences led to rising tensions between Barr and the fire department.

Barr appears to have been sidelined in the latest talks. His name was not on the memo. It was issued by Assistant Village Manager Zach Creer, Fire Chief Brian Leahy and Deputy Fire Chief Krupp.

The officials said they looked at possibly sharing a truck with either Hinsdale or Westmont. They said both villages seemed open to such an agreement.

But they said they were not confident such an agreement was in the best interest of Clarendon Hills residents.

The memo noted the fire department's backers have knocked on doors and put up yard signs in support of buying a ladder truck.

"To not provide the equipment will be a blow to employee morale," the memo said. "In the event that firefighters do not believe they have proper equipment on a fire scene, the public is likely to hear about it."

The controversy, they said, has resulted in "knockdown effects" on employees in other departments, frequent resident complaints and time-consuming public records requests.

The debate also may impact the village's relations with other towns, the officials said.

"The ongoing publicity has made it difficult for our neighbors to work with us," Creer said. "Currently, the Village has very strong cooperation between us and our neighbors that, in total, is far more important than an individual piece of equipment."

The memo said the village should focus on being an "attractive" partner for larger conversations about sharing services with other towns.

The memo was written for Monday's Village Board meeting. The officials are seeking direction from trustees.

In recent weeks, village controversies have taken a toll on Manager Barr's career.