Ladder Battle Ensues In Clarendon Hills

CLARENDON HILLS, IL — For months, the debate over whether to get the fire department a new ladder truck has rocked Clarendon Hills' village government.

Now, the village is considering hiring a consultant for $30,000 to examine the ladder truck issue. That, too, is upsetting some.

The village originally budgeted $1 million to replace its 19-year-old ladder truck. But the price has soared to $1.4 million, likely the result of supply chain issues.

At a Village Board meeting earlier this month, Deputy Fire Chief Roger Krupp said hiring a consultant was unnecessary. He said the village should use the experience and expertise of fire department personnel to buy the ladder truck.

According to village documents, a budget item for the consultant says it would be for "services to help with oversight of the purchase of a new fire ladder truck."

In an email to Patch, Village Manager Kevin Barr said the Village Board has made no decision on the consultant or the ladder truck.

At the previous meeting, Barr said the $30,000 was seed money to help with discussions with Hinsdale on whether to share a ladder truck or get a truck independent of Hinsdale.

In September, Hinsdale Village President Tom Cauley told Hinsdale trustees that the two towns have an intergovernmental agreement that calls for sharing personnel, equipment and vehicles. He wondered whether Clarendon Hills needed to spend such money on a ladder truck when Hinsdale has one.

"I was somewhat surprised to hear that there are discussions in Clarendon Hills about a $1.4 million ladder truck," Cauley said.

Such talk has led Clarendon Hills firefighters to believe the two villages are looking to consolidate fire departments, a move that firefighters oppose, Krupp said at the meeting earlier this month.

Clarendon Hills trustees said they were unaware of any discussions to eliminate the local department.

In recent months, village officials have seen "record participation" at meetings, Village President Len Austin said in a newsletter earlier this month. He pointed to two issues that are largely responsible for the change — the ladder truck and a controversial proposal for a gas station near houses.

"We are a group of seven volunteers and local residents like yourselves that do our best to set the policy direction and vision for the Village," Austin said, referring to the Village Board. "There are no secret agendas, hidden goals or backdoor politics ... everything is fully transparent and accessible to all.