VIDEO: After years of debate, the matter is settled. The Peoria Heights Fire Department will now contract with the city of Peoriaโs fire department to help with all structure fires, vehicle crashes that involved an extrication or cardiac incidents.
The change is effective immediately. That ends the debate on whether the villageโs hybrid model of using both volunteers and a small paid staff is enough for such emergencies. Last month, Tony Ardis, the cityโs interim fire chief, estimated the annual cost to the district would be around $54,000.
The vote was close. The Board of Trustees was deadlocked 3-3 until Mayor Matthew Wigginton voted to break the tie. That underscores how important the villageโs volunteer heritage is to residents. For several years, meetings have been held to try to find a way to keep the department the way it has worked for decades while still making sure people are fully protected.
