Washington Fire Department contract includes 50% city contributions for new ambulance and ladder truck

The city of Washington and the Washington Fire Department have a new three-year contract.

The agreement, hammered out over the past several months by a city bargaining team led by Police Chief Mike McCoy and Washington City Council member Brett Adams, and fire department personnel, was approved unanimously Monday by the council.

The contract is retroactive to May 1, 2024 and continues through April 30, 2027.

The city's payment for basic corporate/administrative, fire protection and ambulance/EMT services during the contract life is $3.21 million. That's a 6% increase from the previous three-year contact cost of $3 million for basic services.

With the city's 50% contributions to the cost of a new ambulance and ladder truck added into the new contract, the total contract increase is 35% from $3.36 million to $4.55 million.

The equipment costs are spread over a five-year period.

Jim Snider is no longer a Washington resident. Has he violated a city ordinance by moving?

That question was raised Monday by council member John Blundy, who asked for a legal opinion.

As part of his separation agreement with the city that was approved by the council, Snider is on a paid leave of absence as city administrator until Feb. 3, 2025.

A city ordinance requires the city administrator to live in Washington. But City Attorney Derek Schryer said Monday that Snider's separation agreement does not require him to live in the city while he is on his leave of absence.

Blundy began the discussion of the topic of Snider's residency after reading in the monthly city expense report given to the council that Snider had received a $86.45 refund from the city on Oct. 5 for a water service disconnection.

Speed limits on Freedom Parkway, which opened last week, and a new section of Dallas Road and adjusted speed limits on North Cummings Lane and portions of Dallas Road and West Cruger Road were proposed Monday as a first reading of an ordinance.

Here are the speed limit proposals:

• Freedom Parkway from McClugage Road to 1,200 feet east of McClugage Road: 30 miles per hour.
• Freedom Parkway from 1,200 east of McClugage Road to North Cummings Lane: 40 miles per hour.
• Dallas Road from Newcastle Road to West Cruger Road: 30 miles per hour.
• Dallas Road from West Cruger Road to U.S. Route 24: 35 miles per hour.
• North Cummings Lane from the intersection of Washington Road to its terminus to the north: 35 miles per hour.
• West Cruger Road (except where lower speed limits are posted): 40 miles per hour.

The council also held a first reading Monday for an ordinance that prohibits camping on city property. The ordinance mirrors an Illinois Municipal League model draft ordinance. A council vote on the ordinance is expected Nov. 4.

Catherine Street should have a new brick road from Main Street to High Street as part of a reconstruction project by Nov. 1, City Engineer Dennis Carr said Monday in his regular report to the council.

Jon Oliphant, the city's planning and development director, reported that J&J Toppers will move its operations from East Peoria to Washington and construct a new building at 1875 Constitution Street.

"This will be a great business addition for Washington," Oliphant said.

Also Monday, the council:

• Approved several changes to the city's use agreement with Five Points Washington that will allow the council to use Banquet Room A for its meetings starting Nov. 4 at no charge and have technology installed there at the city's expense so meetings can be professionally televised and videotaped. The council has held most of its meetings in the training room at the Washington Fire Station the past few years. Hearing what's being said at the council table there is sometimes problematical and residents have complained that meeting videos recorded on Zoom are difficult to hear. The revised use agreement continues through April 30, 2031, and can be extended for up to two additional 10-year terms.
• Approved continuing the city's annual farm lease agreement on the "223" property with Aaron Vercler for 2025. The new lease is for $73,508 based on 195.5 tillable acres at $376 per acre. There's also a profit-sharing bonus for the city for corn and soybean yields.
• Approved an agreement with Strand Engineering of Joliet for $15,700 to evaluate a compromise alignment for the proposed Farm Creek trunkline, specifically how construction of the trunkline would affect the woodlands through two families' private properties.
• Approved a $14,351 business improvement grant payment for Brooks Accounting and Tax Service, 2165 Washington Road, for parking lot improvements. The project cost was $54,249.
• Approved purchasing about 1,000 tons of roadway salt at $76.47 per ton from low state bidder Compass Minerals America at a not-to-exceed cost of $120,000. The city has about 2,050 tons of salt at its storage facility.