Hinsdale Wades Into Clarendon Hills Debate

CLARENDON HILLS, IL — Clarendon Hills budgeted $1 million last year for a ladder truck for the fire department. But this year, it found such a truck cost $1.4 million.

Now, officials are considering whether to continue with the plan to get a ladder truck, which is used in multi-floor fires.

This week, Hinsdale Village President Tom Cauley talked about the issue at a Village Board meeting. He called the price "extremely expensive" and wondered whether Clarendon Hills needed such a truck when Hinsdale had one.

"Even though you can tell residents that you don't raise property taxes and it's in the budget, it's money — $1.4 million is $1.4 million," Cauley said. "I think that we should get together with Clarendon Hills and talk about whether there's a need for that equipment, given that we have a ladder truck."

In an interview Thursday, Clarendon Hills Village Manager Kevin Barr called the issue "very complicated." He said the Clarendon Hills Village Board has asked the administration to look at how many types of vehicles and equipment are needed in an area.

He attributed the escalating costs for ladder trucks to the pandemic's effects on supply chains. The fire department's current truck, he said, is 19 years old.

"That's why we're talking about it now," he said. "The Clarendon Hills Village Board hopes to reach a conclusion by the end of the calendar year."

He said Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and other nearby towns often back each other up for fire and emergency medical service calls.

In his comments to the Village Board, Cauley said Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills have an intergovernmental agreement that calls for sharing personnel, equipment and vehicles.

"I had thought we were working together with Clarendon Hills on any significant expenditures and making sure both communities are benefitting by this intergovernmental agreement that we share equipment," Cauley said. "I was somewhat surprised to hear that there are discussions in Clarendon Hills about a $1.4 million ladder truck."

He said Hinsdale's ladder truck is 10 years old, has been refurbished and is expected to last another 10 years. Such trucks are rarely used, he said.

In recent weeks, the ladder issue has generated a debate. More than 300 people have signed a Change.org petition in favor of buying a new truck. The argument is that property taxes would not go up because the money is already set aside. The supporters of a purchase also contend that waiting for a ladder truck from another town would be risky for residents.

The petition states that the lack of a ladder truck may mean a drop in property values.

"Without OUR OWN ladder truck, potential buyers of homes and condos could deem a purchase here as less desirable," the petition says.