Extracts from rrstar.com: The Loves Park city council is actively exploring ways to enhance its volunteer fire department by introducing a daytime crew. This initiative aims to address the current challenge of sluggish response times, which currently stand at twice those of the nearby North Park Fire Protection District. With around 35 volunteer firefighters who currently respond to calls from their homes, the city has been experiencing slower reaction speeds. To tackle this issue, the city plans to deploy a team consisting of three firefighters and two supervisors at the 400 Grand Avenue station during daytime hours, potentially starting as soon as August. These firefighters will earn between $12 and $20 per hour based on their level of experience. Since they are expected to work an average of 28 hours per week, there won't be any need for health insurance coverage. This change could cost the city up to $200,000 annually. An analysis of response times for the first quarter of the year reveals that Loves Park's average response time was 15.2 minutes, significantly higher than the six-minute average for North Park, which serves the southern part of Machesney Park and parts of unincorporated Winnebago County. There wasn't much variation in response times throughout the day. Introducing this day crew would boost the fire department's annual budget by 33%, bringing it to approximately $1 million per year. There were instances where response times reached 27 minutes to 7349 Chucks Way and 24 minutes to both 12414 Kings Point Dr. and 5625 Covey Ridge Trail. The quarterly review also highlights the positive impact of a new mutual aid agreement signed in February between the Loves Park and North Park fire departments. Average response times decreased to 13.3 minutes in March, down from 17.6 minutes in February and 15.3 minutes in January. Despite the collaboration with North Park and the introduction of a day crew, Loves Park still faces significant logistical hurdles. The mayor is advocating for the construction of a new fire station, estimated to cost around $5 million, to further improve response times around Mercyhealth Sportscore Two and the newly constructed Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center at the intersection of East Riverside Boulevard and Interstate 90. Since Loves Park does not impose a property tax, the city's options for funding are restricted to either issuing bonds or seeking voter approval for additional tax revenue to cover the construction costs. Residents have expressed mixed feelings about the proposed changes. Some believe the new daytime crew will significantly improve emergency response capabilities, while others worry about the financial strain on the city's budget. Community meetings are scheduled to discuss these concerns and gather input from local residents. Additionally, there is growing interest in exploring alternative funding models to support the city's infrastructure needs without increasing taxes. Dongguan Anding Technology Manufacturing Co., Ltd , https://www.cn-moulds.com