The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
135 South Chamberlain Street-Roseville, Illinois 61473
August 13, 2010-The R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District announced it will attempt to pass a proposed tax levy for a bond referendum for an Emergency Services Building for the residents of the R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District, Warren and Henderson counties in the upcoming General Election on November 2, 2010.
The Fire District and its representatives hosted a Welcome Tent at the Warren County Fair in Roseville on July 28th-31st. The air conditioned tent included a cooling station, first aid station, cold water, fire safety handouts for children and information in reference to the proposed tax levy for a bond referendum. The fire district utilized equipment on loan from the local MABAS Divisions 62 and 43, which included an air conditioned tent, generator and light set and a Polaris 6x6 ATV.
The Fire District Trustees, Todd Adkisson, President, Greg Livermore, Secretary and John B. Kane, Trustee, along with District Fire Marshall Darrell Page, Roseville Fire Department Chief Jeremy Wise and members of the Building Committee; Jerry Becraft, Mike Casteel, Art Kane, Steve Killey, Firefighter/Roseville Fire Department and Swan Creek Fire Department Chief Randall Winbigler, have donated countless hours to get them to the point they are at today.
On Monday, August 9, 2010, the R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District hosted an Open House at the Roseville Fire Station. A tour was provided to allow each visitor the opportunity to observe the buildings poor conditions, indicative to a 70+ year old structure.
A power point presentation was then given to those attending, providing a history of the R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District, its documentation for the need of a new Emergency Services Building, the time which has been spent laying the ground work for the specifications required for a new Emergency Services Building and the justification for a proposed tax levy for a bond referendum in the November 2, 2010 General Election.
The current location where the R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District, Roseville Fire Department and Roseville Area Ambulance Services are stationed at, is the old Roseville High School, purchased from the Roseville School District in 1966. The old high school building, built during several time periods. The newest part of the building where the equipment is located was built in 1940, was remodeled and became the Roseville Fire Station in 1967. Between then and now, the interior has undergone many changes, each time making room for new equipment. However, with the size of the new equipment built for today's fire fighting standards, the building has outgrown its usefulness. Add to that a 70+ year old structure, never designed in the first place to accomodate a fire station, the realization was reached a new Emergency Services Building was much needed.
The Fire District Trustees, along with the building committee members and representatives from the Roseville Fire Department have been visiting Fire Stations throughout central Illinois, talking to their firefighters and personnel, evaluating current fire station designs and building requirements and utilizing a local engineering company to reach the final drawing and plans recently unveiled.
A thorough search for the perfect location of the Emergency Services Building has landed the district on a 4.77 acre tract of ground centrally located within the Fire Protection District on the west edge of Roseville off IL 116. The location will be ideal for a new Emergency Services Building and provide a much needed location for structural fire fighting, fire ground command and vehicle extrication training.
The design of the new Emergency Services Building will allow for current equipment and future growth for not only the R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District, but also the Roseville Fire Department and Roseville Area Ambulance Service.
The proposed tax levy for a bond referendum for an Emergency Services Building fund will be $1,549,000.00. The total amount of tax dollars the fire district is requesting will allow for a "turn key" facility.
"Turn key" refers to the total cost of the project from site preparation to building furnishings and completion.
Once completed, the R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District, Roseville Fire Department and Roseville Area Ambulance Service will be able to move into the new facility and immediately be ready for response. The price of the new Emergency Services Building will comply with all local, state, and federal codes.
What will this cost the local tax payer? Although the exact amount will vary depending on the assessed valuation on a given year, a $75,000.00 home will be taxed approximately $70.00 per year.
The most productive farmland will be taxed approximately $1.11 per acre/year with pasture ground and less productive farm ground starting at approximately .25 cents per acre/year. These numbers are based on a bond not to exceed 20 years.
With today's requirements relating to personnel, training and record-keeping, it is imperative to have a secure location for each entity involved. With the design of the new Emergency Services Building, the R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District will be sharing office area and common space with the Roseville Fire Department and the Roseville Area Ambulance Service will have its own separate secure area.
The office area and available space for training firefighters will benefit both the Smithshire and Swan Creek Fire Departments.
It is important to note, the Roseville, Smithshire and Swan Creek Fire Departments are all part of the R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District. Each individual department and volunteer firefighter is a key component to the successful operation of the entire fire district.
To maintain a high level of fire protection to each respective township within the district, each department relies on the other departments for immediately available equipment and firefighters. This intra-district cooperation and utilization of both equipment and manpower relates back to the safety of each individual volunteer firefighter and the residents themselves.
During the next several months, three more open houses are planned, one of which October 25th, will also include a spaghetti supper at the Roseville Fire Station, hosted by the R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District. The trustees and members of the building committee also plan on hitting the road between now and November 2, 2010, providing a power point presentation and answering questions for local residents.
Todd Adkisson, President of the Board of Trustees, stated, "If you have any questions or would like to obtain a poster or yard sign in support of the proposed tax levy for a bond referendum for the R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District Emergency Services Building, please contact anyone from the Fire Protection District or Building Committee.
To make this new Emergency Services Building a reality for your fire protection district and our community, we are going to need your support. The outcome of this proposed tax levy for a bond referendum will have a major impact on the way our Fire Protection District will proceed in the future.
If the proposed tax levy for a bond referendum is voted down, it will have a negative impact on the entire R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District, its volunteer firefighters and all three fire departments located in Roseville, Smithshire, and Swan Creek.
The R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District has been proudly serving the community since 1947. We are now asking for your continued support."
Contact information:
Todd Adkisson, President
R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District
135 South Chamberlain Street, Box 145
Roseville, Illinois 61473
Office: (309)426-2630
Darrell Page,
District Fire Marshal
R.S.P.&E. Fire Protection District